New Ross town

A brief history

In 2008 New Ross celebrated 800 years since first being established by the Normans. In the British Museum in London is stored a lovely thirteenth century medieval poem that describes the building of the walls of New Ross, in which the poet extends the welcome that is always there for the visitor to Ross:

“For this is the best free town, to be found in continent or island, and every stranger finds a welcome, and is received with great joy.”

New Ross town

A brief history

In 2008 New Ross celebrated 800 years since first being established by the Normans. In a lovely medieval poem that describes the building of the walls of New Ross, the poet extends the welcome that is always there for the visitor of Ross:

For this is the best free town, to be found in continent or island, and every stranger finds a welcome, and is received with great joy.

Things to do

Between concerts there are plenty of places to visit and things to do, along with numerous cafes with outdoor spaces.

New Ross Piano Festival – Visit Tintern Abbey with the Colclough Walled Garden

Tintern Abbey

Visit the remains of the Abbey's nave, chancel, tower, chapel and cloister, with 45-minute guided tours of the property and gardens

New Ross Piano Festival – Visit Colclough Walled Garden

Colclough Walled Garden

Visit this restored walled garden, originally built by the Colclough Family in the early Nineteenth Century.

New Ross Piano Festival – Visit Kennedy Homestead

Kennedy Homestead

Birthplace of President John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy, the Kennedy Homestead is a unique cultural museum that celebrates the story of five generations of the Kennedy dynasty and is still today farmed by his descendants.

The Cracked Teapot

Tucked away on the winding and ancient medieval streets of New Ross, this is a hidden gem worth finding and only a short 3-minute stroll from the Quay, home to the Dunbrody Ship and the Ros Tapestry. The quirky decor of the Cracked Teapot plays homage to the tearooms of the past but the menu is thoroughly modern and filled with locally sourced, organic and free-range choices. Famed for their vegetarian and vegan options (including the best vegan brownies you’ll find anywhere!) you’ll also see plenty of locally reared meat dishes too, their O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon and Wexford Chedder Cheese Toastie is a popular lunchtime choice! If you are looking for somewhere that really does a great job showcasing local food, that suits all tastes, you cannot miss out on the Cracked Teapot!

What’s on 2018

The New Ross Piano Festival runs from 26th – 30th September 2018. Take a look through this year’s festival programme.

See our full programme