Historical Wexford landmark to feature in new board game to be released later this year

A historical Wexford landmark will feature in a new board game which is set to be released later this year…

Steve Kling owns and operates a small historical game company making games on historical battles that use history themed cards.

Speaking to Wexford Weekly, Steve told us that the historical Vinegar Hill, in Enniscorthy, will feature in the next game.

“The games are easy to learn and are intended to help get people interested in history, learn about problem solving and have a game format that will hopefully be competitive and entertaining. The rules always have a further reading section as I often find after playing the game players want to know more. Most of the games include “what if” possibilities where there is a basis in the history and explore different strategies that might have changed the historical result. The cards help vary game play and apply a bit of unpredictability,” he told Wexford Weekly.

“I often make games on lesser-known topics, and I enjoy the underlying research. I have been working on a game on the Battle of Vinegar Hill in 1798 and as something new for me, just a few weeks ago made a separate Facebook Page where people could follow along in the design process and provide suggestions,” he encouraged.

With historical games, one can imagine that it’s not an easy process. A lot of research is needs to be completed in advance. For Steve, who has a passion for history, he relied on first-hand historical accounts, while he also touched base with Enniscorthy locals to help his understanding.

“I have had several suggestions on the map from people in or who used to live around Enniscorthy. Retired solicitor/lawyer Keith Ruddock who grew up in the area has been particularly helpful.

“For this game as well as most of my games, I often read the first-hand accounts first then the better second-hand sources as well as looking at period maps. I was fortunate that an excellent local book was published titled Vinegar Hill: The Last Stand of the Wexford Rebels of 1798 in 2021 after some extensive archaeological work as the book was very useful for my purposes,” Steve told us.

His love for history has no bounds. In fact, Steve is actually an author and has several historical books published too.

“Besides my interest in history, I have published several books about the American Revolution and one with 42 authors from Europe on the Great Northern War in northern Europe 1700-1721. I have ancestors from the Corby family who came from Limerick to the US in the early 1800s, which in part why this topic grabbed my attention,” he told Wexford Weekly.