Attractions in Hook Peninsula, Wexford, Ireland

Hook Head Lighthouse

• Hook Head lighthouse, which was constructed by the Normans between 1170 and 1184, is the oldest lighthouse in Ireland and is one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the world. The 13-foot thick walls were constructed of locally-mined limestone and mortar of lime and ox blood on the site of a previously existing beacon house. It is one of the most visited sites in Wexford and is an Irish Heritage site. The lighthouse offers guided tours, an informative visitors' center, cafe and craft shop. Multilingual literature and group tours are available and should be booked early. The site is open year-round with varying hours.

  Hook Head Lighthouse
  R734, Hook
  Wexford, Ireland
  +353-0-51-397055
  hooktourism.com

Dunbrody Abbey

• Founded in 1170, Dunbrody Abbey is considered to be one of the best examples of Cistercian monastic architecture in Ireland. The abbey was constructed on Hook Peninsula at the behest of Herve de Montmorency following the Norman invasion of Ireland. It took approximately 50 years to complete and was an active place of prayer and retreat for nearly 300 years until 1542, when the lands and holdings changed hands and came into the possession of the Etchingham family, who kept the land in trust until 1911. The site is comprised of the abbey, a yew-hedge maze used in walking prayer, a tea room and a craft center. It is open daily from early May until mid-September. Guided tours are available with advance notice.

  Dunbrody Abbey
  R733, Campile
  New Ross
  Wexford, Ireland
  +353-0-51-388603
  dunbrodyabbey.com

Kennedy Homestead

• Located in Duganstown, County Wexford, the Kennedy Homestead is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Hook Peninsula area. Dedicated to the familial legacy of Patrick Kennedy, the grandfather of President John F. Kennedy, the homestead is a cultural museum still owned by relatives of the Kennedy family. The site is still a working farm that visitors can tour. It has a large visitors' center, which offers audio-visual displays, John F. Kennedy memorabilia and a souvenir shop. The homestead is open from May until September, Monday through Friday, as well as weekend hours during the months of July and August.

  Kennedy Homestead
  Duganstown
  New Ross
  Wexford, Ireland
  +353-0-51-388264
  kennedyhomestead.com