Discover Ferns: Medieval Heritage

Ferns tells its medieval story through very different kinds of evidence: a castle with surviving defensive features, early religious buildings and a Heritage Trail with unusual points of interest. Those interested in the history of the town can find several ways to explore it here – from a circular walk just under 2.5 kilometres long to a guided walk.

The Castle and the History of the Town

Ferns Castle was built around 1200 by William, Earl Marshall. Its surviving defensive features include a rock-cut ditch and a drawbridge. Ferns Castle Visitor Centre houses the Ferns Tapestry: This 15-metre-long crewel-embroidered tapestry consists of 25 panels and depicts the town’s pre-Norman history. The castle is closed until 2027. Bear this restriction in mind when planning your trip, and distinguish between the closed castle and the other historical themes Ferns has to offer.

The religious heritage also tells the story of different eras. St. Mary’s Augustinian Abbey was founded around 1160 by Diarmait MacMurrough. Parts of the barrel vault in the chancel survive, with simple ribs still visible. St. Mary’s is also a stop on the Ferns Village Heritage Trail. Today’s St. Edan’s Cathedral contains three high crosses: the northern cross is 1.4 metres high, the north-western one 1.1 metres and the western one 1.2 metres. The cathedral also preserves medieval piscinae, which were used to wash sacred vessels.

At the northern entrance to Ferns, the remains of St Peter’s Church stand beside St. Mogue’s Well. The entrance to the well is now beneath the road and was built in 1847. Details like these provide tangible points of reference in the town’s history: in addition to major buildings, individual surviving features and their locations are among its notable heritage.

Trails and Guided Experiences

The Ferns Village Heritage Trail is just under 2.5 kilometres long and takes about 40 minutes. Its stops include St. Mary’s Abbey and the Fr. Murphy Monument. Along the trail, several so-called Norman helmets also serve as points of discovery: they can be opened and contain small sculptures related to the history of each location. Murals in Ferns also depict figures from the town’s rich medieval history. You can plan to explore in different ways during your visit – by following a trail with stops or looking out for historical subjects around the town.

The Medieval Ferns Experience combines a one-hour guided walk to important medieval sites in Ferns with different forms of interpretation, including virtual reality and audiovisual displays. The experience also includes an Inauguration Stone Challenge, where visitors can find out whether they would be fit to be king. The tour must be booked in advance to ensure a guide is available. If you are choosing between the Heritage Trail and the guided walk, note that the formats and stated durations differ: the trail takes about 40 minutes, while the guided walk lasts an hour.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

The exits to take on the M11 depend on your direction of travel: heading south, take Exit 24 for Camolin and Ferns; heading north to Ferns, Exit 25 is recommended. For rail travel, Gorey and Enniscorthy are among the nearest towns with a train station. This information can help you factor your preferred way of getting there into your travel plans without basing your accommodation choice on distances that have not been specified.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Ferns, first consider whether you would like to make the town’s medieval history the focus of your stay. The historical themes on offer range from the castle and abbey to the trail, murals and Medieval Ferns Experience. Ferns is also linked to St. Davids in North Pembrokeshire, Wales, through the Ancient Connections culture and arts project. The Ferns Heritage Project Group organises an annual conference to promote Ferns’ early Christian and medieval heritage. These cultural connections complement the individual buildings and make Ferns a destination best explored through its history.

More Places

More town pages: Ardamine, Taghmon, Bannow Bay, Bridgetown, Ballygillane Little, Fethard, Wellingtonbridge, Oulart.

For the broader travel overview: County Wexford.