Rosslare Harbour (Ros Láir) Overview

Rosslare Harbour, best viewed when waving from the deck of a departing ship, is a decidedly dull seaside village whose primary function is welcoming voyagers and bidding them bon voyage as they depart for France or Wales. Unlike the seaports of popular imagination, Rosslare doesn’t conjure international intrigue; it doesn’t even have many good pubs or restaurants. Plan on shipping out as soon as your bags are off the ferry.

Transportation. Trains run from the ferry port to: Dublin (3hr., 3 per day, €19.50); Limerick (2hr., 1-2 per day, €17) via Waterford (1hr., 1 per day, €10); and Wexford (15min., 3 per day, €4). The rail office (☎57930) is open daily 6:15am-9:15pm. The same office houses the bus station (☎57930). Most buses stop at the ferry terminal, by the Kilrane Church and the Catholic church, and go to: Dublin (3hr., 14 per day, €16); Galway via Waterford (6hr., 4 per day, €25.50); Killarney (6hr., M-Sa 4 per day, Su 3 per day; €24.50) via Cork (3 hr., €21) and Waterford (1hr., €14.40); Limerick (4hr., M-Sa 5 per day, Su 3 per day; €21); Tralee (M-Sa 4 per day, Su 2 per day; €25.50); Wexford (20min., 13-17 per day, €4.30). Stena Line (☎61560) and Irish Ferries (☎0818 300 400) serve the port. Ferries shove off for: Wales (summer 5-6 per day, winter 2 per day); Britain (2 per day); and France (1 every other day). For more info see By Boat. For a taxi out of town, check for phone numbers at the blue information board to the left of the bureau de change, or try Meg Browne (☎08729 47883), Jimmy Ferguson (☎08723 24618), or Harbour Cabs (☎08727 37466). An office in the ferry terminal offers Europcar (☎33634), Hertz (☎33238), and Budget (☎33318) car rentals. Prices hover around €80-90 for one to two days and €200-235 per week.

Orientation And Practical Information. To get from the ferry port into town, climb the ramp or walk the steps up the cliff; the path goes to N25 which cuts through town. Contact the Wexford tourist office with travel questions, or head to the port authority desk for ferry information (☎33114). Exchange currency at the Bank of Ireland, on St. Martin Rd. (☎33304. 24hr. ATM. Open M-F 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm.) The post office in the SuperValu shopping center has a bureau de change. (☎33201. Open M-F 9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm, Sa 9am-1pm.) Gouldson’s Pharmacy is next door. (☎33551. Open M-F 9am-1pm and 2-6pm, Sa 9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm.)

Accommodations And Food. B&Bs swamp N25 just outside Rosslare.  Mrs. O’Leary’s Farmhouse 2, off N25 in Kilrane, a 15min. drive from town,

towers above the rest. Open since 1955 and set on a glorious 40-hectare seaside farm, Mrs. O’Leary’s is a holiday in and of itself. On fine days, stroll down to the quiet beach. If the weather threatens, stay inside by the fireplace with tea and scones. Breakfasts are varied and tasty, with vegan and vegetarian options plus homemade bread and jam. Pickup from town when available. (☎33134. Singles €40-45; doubles €70. Cash only.) Four-poster beds in some rooms add a touch of old-fashioned grandeur to St. Martin’s B&B , on St. Martin’s Rd., near the bank. Rooms include minifridges and hair dryers. (☎33133; www.saintmartinsrosslare.com. Singles €50; doubles €70. Free Wi-Fi. MC/V in summer.)

The few restaurants in town tend to be expensive and uninspiring—cooking is the best bet. The SuperValu, on N25, has groceries. (☎33107. Open M-W and Sa 8am-7pm, Th 8am-8pm, F 8am-9pm, Su 9am-5pm.) For chipper lovers, there is no better place than Rosslare, land of fried fish. The best pub is Culleton’s, on N25 about 1.5km out of town. The craic here is as good as it gets, so it’s worth the walk. (☎33590. Open M-Th 10:30am-11:30pm, F-Sa 10:30am-12:30am, Su 12:30-11pm. Sa live rock, Su trad. MC/V.) The Kilrane Inn, on N25 in Kilrane, across from Culleton’s, has a large eating area where pub food (sandwiches €5-6; roasts and fish €10-13) is served from 12:30-3pm and 5-9pm. (☎33661. Open M-Th 10:30am-11:30pm, F-Sa 10:30am-12:30am, Su 12:30-11pm. Trad sessions F-Sa. MC/V.)