Westgate Heritage Centre and Selskar Abbey
The Westgate Heritage Centre is housed in what was once a tollgate on the western approach to the city, part of the town’s 12th-century defensive walls. The center has some diverting exhibits relating to Wexford’s town history, plus an informative film. Opening times are somewhat variable, so it’s a good idea to call ahead. Adjacent to the center is the picturesque Selskar Abbey, where the first Anglo-Irish treaty was signed in 1169; it’s said that Henry II spent Lent 1172 at the abbey doing penance for (unintentionally, so the story goes) having Thomas à Becket murdered. Although the abbey is mostly in ruins, its choir is part of a Church of Ireland edifice, and a portion of the original tower is a vesting room. If you want to explore the ruins, book a tour with the excellent Wexford Walking Tours.
The Westgate Heritage Centre is housed in what was once a tollgate on the western approach to the city, part of the town’s 12th-century defensive walls. The center has some diverting exhibits relating to Wexford’s town history, plus an informative film. Opening times are somewhat variable, so it’s a good idea to call ahead. Adjacent to the center is the picturesque Selskar Abbey, where the first Anglo-Irish treaty was signed in 1169; it’s said that Henry II spent Lent 1172 at the abbey doing penance for (unintentionally, so the story goes) having Thomas à Becket murdered. Although the abbey is mostly in ruins, its choir is part of a Church of Ireland edifice, and a portion of the original tower is a vesting room. If you want to explore the ruins, book a tour with the excellent Wexford Walking Tours.
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