Ferns, County Wexford
Encyclopedia
Ferns is a small historic town in north County Wexford
, Ireland
with a population of about 900. It is 16 km from Enniscorthy, where the Gorey
to Enniscorthy
N11 road joins the R745 regional road
. The ruins of Ferns Castle are in the centre of the town.
of Clonmore
who was a Bishop of Ferns. The town became the capital of the Kingdom of Leinster
when the kings of that southern part of the province established their seat of power there. King Dermot MacMurrough
founded St. Mary's Abbey as house of Augustinian canons c. 1158 and was buried there in 1171.
Ferns Castle, an Anglo-Norman fortress, was built in the 13th century by William, Earl Marshall
. Today about half of the castle still stands. The town also contains the 13th-century St Edan's Cathedral (Church of Ireland)
and several high crosses and parts of crosses.
The 19th century population peaked in 1851, but never reached the levels of medieval times. Lewis's Topography of 1834 claimed the town "consists chiefly of one irregular street, and contains 106 houses indifferently built, retaining no trace of its ancient importance".
(both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland
). The town's religious traditions live on today through the recent establishment in Ferns of a hermitage
.
The whole history of modern Ireland stems from Ferns – Diarmuid MacMurrough, King of Leinster invited the Normans in 1169 to help him fight his battles (they never left) – he sealed the deal with his daughter Aoife’s marriage to Strongbow
.
Ferns has evidence of four distinct periods in Irish history. Archaeological digs have revealed habitations from the Bronze, Iron, early Christian and Norman eras.
Ferns boasts many ecclesiastical sites dating from early Christian era through Norman and the Middle Ages. Heritage sites include
For further information on Ferns Heritage http://www.fernsvillage.ie/ferns-heritage-page.html
Regular (almost hourly) bus services link Ferns to Dublin and Roslare are provided by a number of companies.
Ferns railway station opened on 16 November 1863, closed to passenger traffic on 30 March 1964 and to goods traffic on 3 November 1975, before finally closing altogether on 7 March 1977.
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with a population of about 900. It is 16 km from Enniscorthy, where the Gorey
Gorey
Gorey , is a market town in north County Wexford, Ireland, situated beside the main M11 Dublin to Wexford road. The town is also connected to the railway network along the same route. Local newspapers include the Gorey Guardian and Gorey Echo....
to Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going...
N11 road joins the R745 regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
. The ruins of Ferns Castle are in the centre of the town.
History
Ferns is believed to have been established in the 6th century, when a monastery was founded in 598 dedicated to St MogueAedan of Ferns
Saint Máedóc , also known as Áedan, was a saint in Irish tradition, founder and first bishop of Ferns and a patron of other churches, such as Rossinver and Drumlane .-Background:...
of Clonmore
Clonmore, County Carlow
Clonmore is a village in County Carlow, Ireland. It is located 3½ miles south of Hacketstown and 9 miles east of Tullow in the north-east corner of County Carlow.-History:...
who was a Bishop of Ferns. The town became the capital of the Kingdom of Leinster
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
when the kings of that southern part of the province established their seat of power there. King Dermot MacMurrough
Dermot MacMurrough
Diarmait Mac Murchada , anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough , was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor...
founded St. Mary's Abbey as house of Augustinian canons c. 1158 and was buried there in 1171.
Ferns Castle, an Anglo-Norman fortress, was built in the 13th century by William, Earl Marshall
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke
Sir William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke , also called William the Marshal , was an Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman. He was described as the "greatest knight that ever lived" by Stephen Langton...
. Today about half of the castle still stands. The town also contains the 13th-century St Edan's Cathedral (Church of Ireland)
Ferns Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of St Edan is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Ferns, County Wexford in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin....
and several high crosses and parts of crosses.
The 19th century population peaked in 1851, but never reached the levels of medieval times. Lewis's Topography of 1834 claimed the town "consists chiefly of one irregular street, and contains 106 houses indifferently built, retaining no trace of its ancient importance".
Religion and heritage
The town gave the name to the Diocese of FernsRoman Catholic Diocese of Ferns
The Diocese of Ferns is a Roman Catholic diocese in south-eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin. The incumbent Ordinary is Denis Brennan....
(both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
). The town's religious traditions live on today through the recent establishment in Ferns of a hermitage
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
.
The whole history of modern Ireland stems from Ferns – Diarmuid MacMurrough, King of Leinster invited the Normans in 1169 to help him fight his battles (they never left) – he sealed the deal with his daughter Aoife’s marriage to Strongbow
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke , Lord of Leinster, Justiciar of Ireland . Like his father, he was also commonly known as Strongbow...
.
Ferns has evidence of four distinct periods in Irish history. Archaeological digs have revealed habitations from the Bronze, Iron, early Christian and Norman eras.
Ferns boasts many ecclesiastical sites dating from early Christian era through Norman and the Middle Ages. Heritage sites include
- Ferns Castle (Visitor Centre May to end of September – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open daily, housing the Ferns Tapestries)
- Cathedral graveyard including grave of Diarmuid MacMurrough
- St. Mary’s Augustinian Abbey
- St. Edan’s CathedralFerns CathedralThe Cathedral Church of St Edan is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Ferns, County Wexford in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin....
- Ruins of Medieval Cathedral
- Ferns High Crosses
- St. Mogue’s Cottage
- St. Peter’s Church
- St. Mogue's WellHoly wellA holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
- Monument to Father John Murphy (who was born near Ferns)
For further information on Ferns Heritage http://www.fernsvillage.ie/ferns-heritage-page.html
Transport
Ferns is located on the N11 route linking Dublin to Rosslare.Regular (almost hourly) bus services link Ferns to Dublin and Roslare are provided by a number of companies.
Ferns railway station opened on 16 November 1863, closed to passenger traffic on 30 March 1964 and to goods traffic on 3 November 1975, before finally closing altogether on 7 March 1977.
People
- Anne DoyleAnne DoyleAnne Doyle is a newsreader for the Irish broadcaster, Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She currently presents RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock. She is "the most popular television newsreader for a generation" and is regarded as an icon....
- RTÉRaidió Teilifís ÉireannRaidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
newsreader - Dermot MacMurroughDermot MacMurroughDiarmait Mac Murchada , anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough , was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor...
(d. 1171) - former King of Uí CheinnselaigUí CheinnselaigThe Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
and LeinsterKings of LeinsterThe following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line... - Gordon D'ArcyGordon D'ArcyGordon William D'Arcy is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He is registered to Lansdowne RFC and plays for provincial and RaboDirect Pro12 side Leinster.-Career:...
professional Ireland and Leinster rugby player
See also
- Ferns Inquiry
- List of towns and villages in Ireland.