Wexford

Wexford town (1991 pop. 15,393), seat of Co. Wexford, SE Republic of Ireland, on Wexford Harbour, which is formed by the Slaney River estuary. Wexford serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic diocese of Ferns. It is a business center; agricultural produce and farm animals are raised. Malting, fishing, and tourism are important. English invaders signed a treaty there with the Irish in 1169; Oliver Cromwell sacked it in 1649; and the United Irishmen made it their headquarters in 1798. Of interest are Selskar, or St. Sepulchre, Abbey (12th cent.), the Church of St. Patrick, and the old Bull Ring (scene of bullfights). The town was once noted for its fairs and tourneys. Today its opera company specializes in rarely heard works.

Wexford. Town in south-eastern part of Republic of Ireland where autumn opera fest. has been held in highly convivial atmosphere since 1951. Has made speciality of reviving It. operas of bel canto sch. or once-popular operas such as Tiefland, but has also prod. operas by Britten, Janáček, and Maw. Good record of discovering rising star singers, conductors, and producers. Founded by Dr T. J. Walsh (art. dir. 1951–66). Other dirs. Brian Dickie 1966–74, Thomson Smillie 1974–8, Adrian Slack 1979–81, Elaine Padmore 1982–94, Luigi Ferrari from 1995.