Overview
Rosslare is really two places a few kilometres apart, and it helps to know which one you’re going to. Rosslare Strand is the holiday half: a relaxed resort strung along a 3 km beach on the east coast of County Wexford, roughly 20 km south-east of Wexford town. Rosslare Harbour, 8 km south, is the working half – a Europort running 36 sailings a week to Britain and the Continent, with a village that grew up to serve it. The 2022 census put Rosslare Harbour’s population at 2,247, up 87% on 2016, and it swells further in summer. Come for the Strand; use the Harbour to catch a boat.
History
The modern town dates from 1906, when engineers built a deep-water harbour to replace the silting channels of Wexford Harbour, opening a direct maritime link to Britain. The railway followed, and Victorian travellers came out to the sandy spit for the clean air and the flat, wide sands. The coast here doesn’t sit still: on Christmas Eve 1924 a severe storm breached the sandspit and cut off Rosslare Fort, reshaping the shoreline. The two halves settled into the roles they still play – the Strand for leisure, the Harbour for getting on and off the island.
What to see and do
Rosslare Strand
The Strand is the reason to come. The 3 km Blue Flag beach is split into sheltered bays by timber breakwaters, which makes it forgiving for families and casual swimmers. Lifeguards patrol through the summer bathing season, with hours posted on the beach noticeboards. There are male, female and disabled toilets year-round (the accessible unit needs a universal key) plus an outdoor rinse shower. Beyond swimming, the flat sand suits paddle-boarding, beach football and a long walk along the promenade, which is also where the local Sli na Slainte health walks loop off into the dunes.
Rosslare Harbour and Europort
The Europort is Ireland’s southern gateway, with daily passenger and freight services to Wales, France and Spain: Stena Line to Fishguard, Irish Ferries to Pembroke and seasonal continental routes, and Brittany Ferries on overnight crossings to Cherbourg and Bilbao. The passenger terminal is a short walk from the piers, so transfers are painless. Even without a ticket, the viewing platforms give clear sightlines to incoming vessels and the cargo operations – more interesting than it sounds if there’s a ship coming in.
One practical note if you’re driving to a boat: the port car park runs about €1 an hour, €5 a day or €25 a week, paid via APCOA, with a 2.2 m height limit and a €120 clamping fee for getting it wrong. Read the signs before you walk off.
Walks and trails
The coast lends itself to walking. Two waymarked Sli na Slainte loops start from the central car park, one passing the ruins of an early medieval church, the other heading toward the Burrow with views over the salt marshes. The Harbour Trail adds two accessible loops from near the ferry-port viewing area, mixing industrial history with coastal birdlife. For more, the Burrow Walk leads into the Ballyteige Burrow nature reserve, a protected dune system with boardwalks and quiet observation points. Cyclists have a proper long-distance option too: the EuroVelo 1 route starts at Rosslare Harbour and runs to the Ballyhack ferry on quiet country roads.
Golf and outdoor adventure
There are two contrasting golf options. Rosslare Golf Links sits on a narrow coastal spit over Wexford Harbour, its championship Old Course (1905) a traditional links, while the 12-hole Burrow Links – by Christy O’Connor Jnr – has an unusual no-bunker layout that rewards accuracy. Four kilometres from the Europort, the International Outdoor Adventure Centre (IOAC) runs a 4-star campsite and activity programmes from high ropes and kayaking to archery, geared to schools, groups and summer camps.
Horse riding and nearby beaches
Hazelwood Stables, a short drive from the Strand, runs guided rides along the shoreline and coastal paths. Further afield, Curracloe Beach lies west of the Strand with wide sand and consistent surf, and south along the Hook Peninsula, Baginbun Beach pairs a historic landing site with big dunes, under half an hour by car.
Nearby attractions
- Johnstown Castle – 20 min; the estate, agricultural museum and landscaped gardens.
- Irish National Heritage Park – 15 min; a walk-through of 9,000 years of Irish settlement.
- Hook Peninsula – 45 min; Duncannon Fort, Hook Lighthouse and the coast cliffs.
- Forth Mountain – 30 min; loop walks with views over the Wexford coast and Waterford estuary.
Food, drink and accommodation
Dining leans to seafood and casual coastal fare. Wild and Native on Strand Road is the pick for quality seafood, and La Marine Bistro at Kelly’s Resort does a relaxed seasonal menu. For a straightforward feed, Sharky’s serves fish and chips off a large covered patio, Sinnott’s on the Strand keeps a proper pub atmosphere, and Kelly’s Deli is the local morning-coffee stop.
For staying over, Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa sits right on the beach with a sea-spa, tennis and several restaurants. Ferryport House B&B is a practical base near the harbour, while Tuskar House by the Sea and Ashley Lodge B&B are quieter, and Coast Rosslare Strand hotel is central to the promenade.
Getting here and practical information
Transport
Rosslare is well connected by sea, rail and road. The Europort handles ferries to Fishguard, Pembroke and continental ports. Five daily trains from Dublin Connolly terminate at both Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort, with the harbour station within 200 m of the piers. Local Wexford Bus 878 serves the Strand route Monday to Saturday. By car, take the N11 south from Dublin, then the N25 east. There’s no car hire at the harbour – the nearest major outlet is in Wexford town.
Parking, accessibility and services
A large free car park sits at the north end of Rosslare Strand, with pay-and-display bays near the southern end and marked disabled spaces. Short-stay parking is available at the ferry terminals, with peak-period fees. The beach toilets need a universal key for the accessible unit, but the harbour trail and most town footpaths are level and wheelchair-friendly. Everyday services cluster along St Patrick’s Road and Strand Road, including a SuperValu, a Centra and a Texaco filling station; check current hours locally before relying on them late in the evening. Mobile coverage is good, with 4G from Eir and Vodafone and 5G from Three across the Europort and Strand.
Safety and planning
Lifeguards are on duty only during the official summer bathing season, so read the local safety notices and swim near marked areas – conditions here change quickly. If your trip hinges on a ferry, book the crossing well ahead in peak summer and allow time for terminal check-in. Time a beach day for low tide, when the sand opens right out, and check the ferry timetable early to stay ahead of the terminal queues.