WEXFORD, a maritime co. of the province of Leinster, Ireland, is hounded on the n. by the county of Wicklow, on the e. by the English channel, on the s. by the Atlantic, and on the w. by the counties of Waterford, Kilkenny, and Carlow. Its greatest length n. and s. is 55 m., and its greatest breadth e. and w. is 34 miles. The total area comprises 900 sq.m., or 576,616 acres, of which 510,702 are arable, 45,501 uncultivated, 14,325 in plantations, 2,392 in towns, and 3,668 under, water. Pop. '71, 132,666, of whom 120,356 were Catholics, 11,296 Episcopalians, and the rest Protestants of other denominations. The coast-line of Wexford, which extends from Kilmichael point to the estuary of the Suir, Waterford harbor, is irregular, and very dangerous for shipping. From the above-named point to Wexford harbor there is no opening for navigation; and as Wexford harbor, besides being intricate and dangerous, is also obstructed by a bar, it offers little security in boisterous weather; but considerable improvements have lately • been made. The coast from the southern headland of Wexford harbor, Rosslare point, to the mouth of the Suir, presents a succession of bays and headlands. The headland called Carnsore point is the s.e. extremity of Ireland. Parallel with the northern coast-line, at a distance of a few miles, is a range of sand banks; and the southern shores are beset by outlying rocks and islets, which, although somewhat guarded by light-houses and light-ships, frequently prove fatal to shipping. The greater part of the surface is tolerably level, but some detached hills rise to considerable elevation. The mountains of the border are much more elevated, the highest point of the Blackstairs being 2,409 ft.; and of mount Leinster, 2,610. There are few lakes, and these of small size. The principal river is the Slaney, which for some distance is the boundary between Wexford and Carlow, but enters Wexford near Newtownbarry, whence it flows by Enniscorthy into the sea in Wexfoid. harbor. In its geological structure, Wexford belongs to the eastern clay-slate tract, which stretches in a south-westerly direction from the n. of Wieklow to the Atlantic, and which extends across the level districts as far as the granite range separating Wex ford from Carlow. Granite is found in the s.e. of the county, and in some of the detached hills, as are also beds of greenstone. Silver was formerly raised near a. place called Clonmines, where traces of an ancient mine are still seen, and galena has been found in the same place. Copper ore is found at a place called Kerlogne, near
Wexford, and plumbago and asbestos near Enniscorthy. The climate is said to be singularly temperate, and the district is more suitable for agriculture than the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny, although inferior in fertility. The total acreage under crops in 1878 was 216,590, or about two-fifths of the county, oats and barley being the princi pal crops. The breeds of live-stock have been recently so much improved that Wex. ford has carried off first prizes at various cattle shows. The annual value of property in Wexford, under the valuation act, is £375,259. There are but few and inconsider• able manufactures, and 'the trade is chiefly in the export of agricultural produce, especially barley; butter, cattle, pigs, poultry, and eggs are also exported in large quantities. The pupils at the national schools in 1877 numbered 17,893. Wexford is divided into ten baronies. Of these the barony of Forth is very remarkable as having preserved, from the 12th c. dokn to the very last generation, a dialect of English quite peculiar, as well as many peculiar usages and social habits. The principal towns are Wexford (q.v.), Enniscorthy, New Ross, and Gorey; Newtownbarry and Taghmon have each a population of about 1000; and Duncannon is noticeable for its ancient fort and interesting historical associations. The maritime position of Wexford laid it open early to the incursions of the Danes, to whom the name Wexford, or Weisford, is traced by antiquaries. It was the first landing-place of the English in the invasion, and formed part of the tract granted to them by .NIaellIurrough. By the marriage of Strongbow with Eva, MacMurrough's daughter, it came into his hands; and after the partition of his lands among his daughters at his death. underwent many changes of masters. During the civil wars which followed 1641, Wexford was the scene of frequent contests; and in the more recent insurrection of 1798, it formed the theater of the only formidable conflicts of the peasantry with the regular troops. There are numerous relics of antiquity, Celtic as well as Anglo-Norman, in almost every part of the county. Upward of a hundred castles are still traceable, and many ecclesiastical remains, of which the monasteries of Dunbrody, Tintern, Ross, and some others are not unworthy of the best days of medimval architecture. Wexford returns four members to parlia ment; two for the county, one for the borough of Wexford, and one for that of New Ross.
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