Guided tours of Wexford’s Selskar Abbey reopens to the public

Wexford Lions Club’s daily tours of Selskar Abbey, starting at the Nickey Rackard statue in Trimmers Lane, now we have re-opened for the Summer months…

The guided tours restarted just over one week ago and will run until 30 September. They run everyday, starting at 11am. The tours begin at the Nickey Rackard Statue in Trimmer’s Lane (Y35 DP20).

“In 2010 Selskar Abbey, our best Wexford National Monument, as it was known for hundreds of years was in a very sad state – overgrown, vandalised and closed to the public since 1998. This was a matter of great shame and embarrassment to the people of Wexford. However, Mr. Pat Collins, Town Clerk and subsequently County Secretary decided to approach Wexford Lions Club, one of whose aims is to support community projects. He asked them to take it on as a project, in short to tidy it up and get it open to the public,” Jennifer Hussey told Wexford Weekly.

This aim was achieved by a considerable amount of work by the Lions members – the site was hand-weeded, mowed, and litter removed. The entrance gates were painted. All at no cost to the public purse. A plan was made of the graves, historical research began and information boards were erected. Guide-training commenced with Monica Crofton, local historian, with a group of committed Wexford Lions Club Members.

One year later, the tours were up and running.

“Ever since then there have been daily tours available for 4 Summer months for the last 14 years – resulting in approximately 10,000 visitors from all over the world. There have been numerous local and national educational tours to the site as well. An important aspect of this project has involved the visits of local children to Selskar Abbey with several competitions to maintain their interest. For example, the publication of the “Book of Selskar” won by 6th class at St. Iberius National School – all helping to promote local awareness of the Abbey amongst young and old,” Jennifer said.

These positive developments in the promotion of local history of the town, were then further embellished by the offer to the Lions to extend the tour into the upper floor of Devereux’s Tower at Westgate. This gave visitors an excellent insight into the medieval living conditions in our town. So successful was this, that the Lions Club invited and paid for the construction of some medieval-style furniture by the Wexford Working Men’s Club.

This year we have recruited five new volunteer guides so that we can offer a daily tour of the abbey. There is no need to book in advance. The public are encouraged to just turn up at 11am starting at the Nickey Rackard statue in Trimmers Lane for a guided tour of this historic gem. The tour takes approximately 1 hour.

The Wexford Lions Club is a not-for-profit service organisation. The tour costs €5 cash per adult and €1 per child.

All the funds from donations for the tours will go to the SERT bus service (Home – SERT – South East Radiotherapy Trust), in fond memory of one of their former guides,Eamon Tierney, who passed away earlier this year. The S.E.R.T. minibus which transports Wexford cancer patients free of charge and stress-free to Waterford for radiotherapy treatment.