GREAT ROADS:Wexford's roads boast beautiful scenery and an abundance of historical references
THE R730 WINDS its way from the outskirts of Wexford town to the attractive village of Kiltealy in the heart of the Blackstairs Mountains. In doing so, it passes through what I consider to be some of the most beautiful rolling landscape on this island; a landscape steeped in history which also is less visited than it perhaps deserves to be. The R730 begins on the south bank of the river Slaney in Wexford town and crosses the busy R741 at Ferrycarriag where the tower on the site of what is thought to have been the first Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland dominates from its position on a crag commanding the river.
The R741 crossed, the R730 continues along the western bank of the Slaney before leaving the river to strike out in a northwesterly direction. Before long, the N30 road from Enniscorthy to New Ross is reached and crossed by a staggered junction, and the road starts to climb towards the village of Kiltealy.
This is one of the most attractive sections of the road - through leafy turns with an excellent surface - the sort of road that Wexford seems to have in abundance. Kiltealy itself, Cill tSíle, literally meaning "Síle's Church", is a pretty village nestled at the foot of the Scullogue Gap which separates Mount Leinster from the Blackstairs Mountains. Here, we leave the R730 and take the R703 halfway up the village's main street. As the road climbs over the Gap, a monument to the men and women of 1798 marks the spot where we cross briefly into the southern tip of Co Carlow.
There are many reminders in Co Wexford of the part played by the ordinary people of almost every village in the 1798 Rebellion. The rebellion began in the village of Boolavogue, where the villagers were making their way to Ferns to hand in their weapons when they were attacked by local yeomanry. Outraged, and led by their priest, Fr Murphy, the people rose up and in the following weeks the whole of Wexford joined in.
Success followed success, and the insurgents took Enniscorthy, but in a final bloody battle at Vinegar Hill, they were defeated by an overwhelming force of 20,000, bringing the 27-day-old insurrection to an end.
Having crossed over the Scullogue Gap, the R703 meets the R729 heading south to New Ross. Here there are several choices: either to continue on the R703 into the village of Graiguenamanagh, or turn south to New Ross. We opted to take the R729 to New Ross.
It was a good choice, wandering through some wonderful scenery with views over the river Barrow, before passing through tree-covered stretches. Founded in the 13th century by Isabel, daughter of the Norman leader Strongbow, New Ross was the Norman "gateway to the valley of the Barrow". It's a place full of interest, and provides a good finish to our path through Wexford's often turbulent, but proud history.