- John Banville (1945-) Born in Wexford town, Banville is a novelist, playwright, and critic, renowned for his precise prose and dark humor. His novel The Sea (2005) won the Man Booker Prize, and other works like The Book of Evidence (1989) explore existential themes. Writing as Benjamin Black, he also authored crime novels. He is one of Ireland’s most critically acclaimed contemporary writers.
- Eoin Colfer (1965-) Born in Wexford town, Colfer is a children’s author best known for the Artemis Fowl series, a global bestseller being adapted into films. His other works, like Half Moon Investigations (2006) and Iron Man: The Gauntlet (2016), showcase his imaginative storytelling and humor, appealing to young readers worldwide.
- John B. Keane (1928-2002) Born in Listowel, but with strong Wexford ties through his family’s residence in Enniscorthy, Keane was a playwright, novelist, and essayist. His plays, such as The Field (1965) and Sive (1959), depict rural Irish life and social issues with emotional depth. His works remain staples in Irish theatre.
- Billy Roche (1949-) Born in Wexford town, Roche is a playwright, novelist, and short-story writer. His Wexford Trilogy (A Handful of Stars, Poor Beast in the Rain, Belfry) explores small-town life in Wexford with poignant realism. He also wrote the novel Tumbling Down (1986) and acted in his own plays.
- Nicky Rossiter (1956-) Born in Wexford town, Rossiter is a local historian, poet, and writer who has authored over 20 books, including Wexford: Town of Heritage (2004) and Wexford in Old Photographs (2008). His poetry and historical works celebrate Wexford’s culture, people, and maritime history.
- William Lamport (1611-1659) Born in Wexford town, Lamport was a writer and adventurer whose memoirs and proclamations in Mexico, where he was known as “Zorro,” challenged Spanish colonial rule. His writings, including a manifesto for Mexican independence, were revolutionary but led to his execution by the Spanish Inquisition.
- Richard Barry O’Brien (1847-1918) Born in Kilrush, Wexford, O’Brien was a historian, journalist, and biographer. His works, such as The Life of Charles Stewart Parnell (1898) and The Irish Land Question (1881), provided detailed accounts of Irish nationalism and politics, influencing historical scholarship.
- Colm Tóibín (1955-) Born in Enniscorthy, Wexford, Tóibín is a novelist, essayist, and critic. His novels, including The Blackwater Lightship (1999) and Brooklyn (2009), explore Irish identity, family, and exile. Brooklyn was adapted into an acclaimed film, and Tóibín has won numerous literary awards.
- James Ryan (1891-1970) Born in Taghmon, Wexford, Ryan was a doctor, politician, and memoirist. His writings, including contributions to medical journals and political memoirs, documented his role as a Sinn Féin member during the Irish War of Independence and his experiences in Wexford’s revolutionary period.
- John Edward FitzGerald (c. 1832-1903) Born in Wexford, FitzGerald was a poet and journalist who emigrated to Canada. His poetry, published in Canadian and Irish journals, often reflected his Wexford roots and themes of Irish identity. He also wrote essays on Irish emigration and culture.
Writers
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Wexford:
Ireland’s county Wexford combines coastal beauty with historic sites, with the Hook Lighthouse, one of the world’s oldest, offering scenic coastal views. The Irish National Heritage Park recreates ancient and medieval settlements, while Wexford’s beaches, like Curracloe, provide sandy shores for walking. Other attractions include the historic town of Enniscorthy and its castle. Wexford is Ireland’s 13th largest county by size (2,351 square km) and 14th largest by population (163,919). Population peaked at 202,033 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 83,308 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Wexford is Ireland’s eighth most visited tourist county with around 229,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings– Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846– 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
