Wexford is the
13th-largest of Ireland's thirty-two traditional counties in area, and
9th-largest in terms of population. }} • County Town:
Wexford • Market Town:
Gorey •
Adamstown •
Arthurstown •
Ballindaggin •
Ballycanew •
Ballycullane •
Ballyedmond •
Ballyfad •
Ballygarrett •
Ballyhack •
Ballywilliam •
Bannow •
Barntown •
Blackwater •
Bree •
Bridgetown •
Broadway •
Bunclody •
Camolin •
Campile •
Castlebridge •
Castletown •
Cleariestown •
Clohamon •
Clonroche •
Coolgreany •
Courtown •
Craanford •
Crossabeg •
Cullenstown •
Curracloe •
Duncannon •
Duncormick •
Enniscorthy •
Ferns •
Fethard-on-Sea •
Foulkesmill •
Gorey •
Hollyfort •
Inch •
Killinierin •
Kilmore •
Kilmore Quay •
Kilmuckridge •
Kiltealy •
Monamolin •
Monaseed •
Murrintown •
Monageer •
Newbawn •
New Ross •
Oulart •
Oylegate •
Poulpeasty •
Rathangan •
Rosslare •
Rosslare Harbour •
Raheen •
Rathnure •
Saltmills •
Taghmon •
Watch House Village •
Wellingtonbridge •
Wexford Mountains and hills Largely low-lying fertile land is the characteristic landscape of the county. The highest point in the county is Mount Leinster at , in the
Blackstairs Mountains in the north-west on the boundary with County Carlow. Other high points: •
Black Rock Mountain, , located near the Wexford-Carlow border, within County Wexford. •
Croghan Mountain (or
Croghan Kinsella) on the Wexford-Wicklow border – • Annagh Hill, , near the Wicklow border •
Slieveboy, Notable hills include: Carrigbyrne Hill; Camross (or Camaross) Hill, ; Carrigmaistia, ; Smaller rivers of note are the Owenduff, Pollmounty, Corrock, Urrin, Boro, Owenavorragh (also spelt Ounavarra), Sow and
Bann rivers. There are no significant fresh-water lakes in the county. Small seaside lakes or
lagoons exist at two locations – one is called
Lady's Island Lake and the other Tacumshin Lake. The
Wexford Cot is a flat-bottomed boat used for fishing on the tidal mudflats in Wexford. A canoe-shaped punt fitted with a gun, called a
float in Wexford, is used traditionally to shoot game birds in the
North Slob mud flats.
Islands The
Saltee Islands lie offshore from Kilmore Quay, while the smaller
Keeragh Islands are offshore from Bannow.
Climate County Wexford, sometimes dubbed Ireland's "sunny southeast", has in general a higher number of hours of sunshine recorded daily than in the rest of the country. This has resulted in Wexford becoming one of the most popular places in Ireland in which to reside. The county has a mild, but changeable,
oceanic climate with few extremes. The
North Atlantic Drift, a continuation of the
Gulf Stream, moderates winter temperatures. There is a
meteorological station located at
Rosslare Harbour. January and February are generally the coldest months, with temperatures ranging from on average. July and August are generally the warmest months, with average temperatures ranging from in coastal areas and in inland areas. The
prevailing winds blow from the south-west. Precipitation falls throughout the year. Mean annual rainfall is . Generally, the county receives less snow than more northerly parts of
Ireland. Heavy snowfalls are relatively rare, but can occur. The one exception is
Mount Leinster, visible from a large portion of the county, and frequently covered with snow during the winter months.
Frost is frequent in winter months, less so in coastal areas.
Soil An
ice sheet covered most, but not all, of the county during the last
Ice age. As the
ice retreated, County Wexford would have been one of the first areas to be covered with
glacial drift (a mixture of
boulders,
clay,
sand and
gravel) that blanketed the existing
bedrock. This has led to high-quality
soils, suitable for a wide range of
agriculture. A very detailed soil survey of the county was published in 1964 as part of the 'National Soil Survey of Ireland'. It classifies each area of the county according to its specific
soil type. Most of the county is covered with soils called
brown earths, described as well-drained and having a wide use-range. After that,
gleys (poorly to imperfectly drained with a limited use-range) are the next major soil type, primarily located in the south-east of the county and east of
Gorey (along the coast). Gleys are dotted elsewhere around the county in small areas, and where they occur they generally form
bogland. The last major soil type,
brown podzolics, occur mainly near the edges of the
Blackstairs Mountain range and around
Bunclody and in the
baronies of East
Shelmalier and South Ballaghkeen. Though there are areas covered with other
soil types, these are of limited extent.
Flora Common species of tree include
oak,
ash,
sycamore,
alder,
blackthorn,
hawthorn,
beech and
birch. Less common (but plentiful) species include
wild cherry and
Scots pine (also called red deal).
Elm is now far less common, due to the devastating effects of
Dutch elm disease.
Gorse (or furze) is very common. A priority habitat in Wexford is the
grey dune, on which many native wild flora grow, including
bee orchid and
pyramidal orchid. Despite the designation of much of this habitat as a
Special Area of Conservation, it remains threatened by destruction for agricultural intensification. There is very little natural forest in the county. Most natural trees and vegetation grow on
hedgerows.
Fauna South-eastern Wexford is an important site for wild birds—the north side of
Wexford Harbour, the
North Slob, is home to 10,000
Greenland white-fronted geese each winter (roughly one third of the entire world's population), while in the summer
Lady's Island Lake is an important breeding site for
terns, especially the
roseate tern. The
grey heron is also seen. Throughout the county
pheasant,
woodpigeon and
feral pigeons are widespread.
Mute swan,
mallard,
kingfisher, and owls (the
long-eared owl, the
short-eared owl, and the
barn owl) are less common – but plentiful.
Red grouse, once common, is now extremely scarce. The species has been in decline for some decades. Threats include habitat degradation, disease, predation and over-hunting. Red grouse in Ireland are now considered threatened. The
corncrake, also once very common, is now almost never seen. Smaller birds—such as crows, swallows, robins, wrens and so on—are very common. The first
magpies in
Ireland were recorded by Robert Leigh, of Rosegarland, County Wexford, as having appeared in the County of Wexford about 1676. Land mammals include
badger,
rabbit,
otter,
hedgehog,
red fox,
mink,
bats,
squirrels (
red and
grey),
rats (
brown and
black – both
introduced species), and
mice (
wood (or field) and
house). Two types of
hare—the
Irish (or mountain) hare and the less common
brown (or European) hare—are found. Hare is not nearly as common as rabbit. The
stoat (
Mustela erminea hibernica) is also reasonably common. Locally the stoat is just as often incorrectly called a
weasel. Only two types of
seal are found on County Wexford's coast—
Atlantic grey seals are very plentiful in coastal areas; the slightly smaller
common (or harbour) seal is less common, yet plentiful. The
small tortoiseshell butterfly (reddish-orange colour, with black markings) is the most common species of
butterfly in the county. Various types of
moth are also common. The
common frog – the only type of
frog found – is plentiful. ==Governance and politics==