FESTIVAL LOCATIONS

County Wexford

Ballyhack
Ballyhack Castle is a large tower house, built c.1450 by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John (one of two great military orders founded at the beginning of the 12th century around the time of the Crusades. The castle houses displays information on Crusader Knights, Medieval Monks and Norman nobility.

Arthurstown

Duncannon
Duncannon Fort is a star shaped fortress on an important promontory in Waterford Harbour. It was built in 1558 in the expectation of an attack on the area by the Spanish Armada, it resisted long sieges in the 1600s. King William and King James II took ship here after Battle of the Boyne 1690. The Fort is surrounded by a 30 ft high dry moat and has one of the oldest lighthouses of its kind in Ireland. All the major buildings in the Fort surround a parade ground. A walk around the outer ramparts afford spectacular views across the estuary to Co. Waterford and down to Hook Head. Located at a lower level than the moat is the croppy boy cell. After the 1798 rebellion, prisoners were detained here pending transfer to Geneva Barracks for trial and sentencing.

An added attraction from 2002 is the Maritime Museum which charts the maritime history of one of the most dangerous coastlines in Ireland, the Wexford coast.

Blackhill Lighthouse, the oldest of its kind in Ireland, was built in 1744. Two types of lenses are used, white to signal ships are on course and red to warn that they are off course.

Duncannon Wreck, lies on Duncannon Bar on the western edge of the main shipping channel into Waterford harbour. the wooden hull lies almost intact below the seabed with the breech ends of he cannons exposed. The site extends for 35 m and is orientated n-n-w/s-s-e. it lies on the side slope of the main navigation channel at a depth of 8m at high water. Through natural and man-generated water movement the wreck is exposed and covered intermittently by silt and sand throughout the year.

Hook Head
Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in Europe. the light has been maintained on this site for 1,500 years from the first beacon kept alight by ancient monks to the development by Raymond Le Gros in 1245. Before operation was transferred to an automated system in 1996, the lighthouse was manned by 3 keepers. The lighthouse keepers' houses have been converted to an audio-visual room, Café and craft shop with a conservatory linking the two houses. Guided tours supported by multi-lingual literature or provided on site. Slade castle, built in the late 15th to early 16th century, is one of the best preserved of its kind with its spiral stairway in near perfect condition.

Fethard-on-Sea

Saltmills

County Waterford

Passage East

Dunmore East

Tramore

Copper Coast Geo Park
The Copper Coast Geopark gets its name from the 19th Century copper mines that lie at its heart. It comprises some 25 kilometres of spectacular coastline, beaches and coves buttressed and enclosed by rocky headlands stretching from Kilfarresey to Stradbally in Co. Waterford. The Copper Coast Geopark is an outdoor museum. Oceans, volcanoes, deserts and ice sheets all combined to create the rocks, which provide the physical foundation of the natural and cultural landscapes of the Copper Coast. Accessible sections along the coast are Kilfarrasy, Annestown, Benvoy, Boatstrand, Tankardstown Engine House, Stage Cove, Bunmahon, Ballydowane, Ballyvooney and Stradbally.

In recognition of its outstanding volcanic geology, as well as the very significant history of mainly 19th Century copper mining, the region was awarded the accolade of European Geopark in 2001 and UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004. The area has a wealth of beautiful yet “undiscovered” secluded coves and beaches each with a story to tell. It took more than 460 million years to create the Copper Coast so take your time to visit and explore it. The Sea Festival coincides with our participation in European Geoparks Week and we are delighted to have our programme included in the Festival.

Further information and bookings Copper Coast Geopark, Knockmahon Lodge, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford, Ireland. Open Mon – Thursday 9.30am –5pm T: 051-292828
E: info@coppercoastgeopark.com W: www.coppercoastgeopark.com
Photos by Keith Fitzgerald
Copper Coast Geopark Supported by
INTERREGIIB Community Initiative, Geological Survey of Ireland,
Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland, Waterford County Council, University College Cork. Members of European Geoparks network and UNESCO Global Geoparks

Newfoundland and Labrador - Irish Loop and Cape Shore Loop