Duncannon Fishing Village
There are many local attractions in Duncannon village including three bars, a shop, and a number of restaurants and cafés. Roche’s Bar is a traditional family-run pub. Bar Food is served daily from 12:30pm. The bar and Sqigl Restaurant are members of the BIM Seafood Circle. Across the street, The Strand Tavern comprises of a bar, lounge and beer garden. Bar food is served daily and the lounge is available for private functions. Both establishments show live sports and have live music at the weekend. Other eateries in the village include Sandy Dock Café and the new Pizzeria ‘Off The Hook’. Hooked Kitesurfing school offers the chance to learn a new sport in the water at Duncannon Beach.
Duncannon Fort
Duncannon Fort, built in 1588, includes a maritime museum and Arts centre and is open daily to visitors from June to September. Guided tours are available from the tourist office in the Fort.
Hook Lighthouse Visitor Centre
The present structure is about 805 years old and is the oldest operational Lighthouse in the world. Hook Lighthouse offers guided tours of the lighthouse tower, a 13th Century Norman structure, built by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke.
The former lighthouse keeper’s houses now play host to the visitor facilities, gift shop selling reasonably priced gifts of a nautical nature; cafe serving homemade soup sandwiches and various seafood options, scones; art exhibits and maritime displays.
Dunbrody Famine Ship
Located alongside the New Ross docks, the Dunbrody Famine Ship is a full scale replica of the original ship which was built in 1845 and used to transport emigrants to North America. Visitors to the ship are greeted by actors, in costume, who give an insight into the conditions endured on board and in Ireland during the famine period. The Irish Emigration Database provides details of over two million passengers who sailed from Ireland in the nineteenth century.
John F. Kennedy Arboretum
Situated 12km south of New Ross, the John F. Kennedy Arboretum celebrates the ex-president’s links with New Ross. The Arboretum, which covers 252 hectares, contains some 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world. The summit of Slieve Coillte has a viewing point with spectacular panoramic views.
