Wexford Town sits near the mouth of the River Slaney, where a shallow harbour, narrow medieval lanes, and a surprisingly serious opera tradition meet. It is not as polished as Kilkenny or as busy as Cork, but it has a lived-in southeast character and one of Ireland's best cultural surprises.
The old town still follows a tight street pattern shaped by its Viking and Norman past. Selskar Abbey, St Iberius' Church, the quay, and the lanes around South Main Street make the best short walk. The waterfront is more workaday than postcard-pretty, but it gives the town air and a sense of its maritime history.
Wexford changes character during the Wexford Festival Opera, when a quiet county town suddenly fills with opera-goers, fringe performances, and booked-out restaurants. Outside festival time, the Irish National Heritage Park at Ferrycarrig is the strongest reason to linger.
Use Wexford Town as a base for the southeast corner: Rosslare and its ferries are close, Curracloe's beaches are north of town, and the coast toward Hook Head makes a fine loop if you have a car.