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.

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