A HISTORICAL TOUR OF GOREY

rebuilt in 1709, currently the building is been used as the meeting place for the Gorey Town Commissioners for their monthly meetings.
During the 1798 insurrection prisoners were held here. The building is listed as a place of regional historic interest.
From here, travel up the Main Street taking note of the many old fashioned shopfronts - Brownes Pub, Myles Doyle, Doyles and Rath and
the 63 Restaurant. Start your tour at the Tourist Office on the Main Street. The office is part of the Market House, this old 18th century
building was Hotel which are among the shopfronts listed for protection. Take note of the Golden Dragon Restaurant whose fine premises
are protected for regional interest. You will then come across the Court House, which also houses the town's library. Built in 1819, it was
burned down in 1922 but rebuilt shortly afterwards.
Beside the Court House, is the Church of Ireland. Christ Church was erected in 1861, and boasts some magnificent stained glass windows.
The structure of the Church with its tower is beautiful and this is highlighted when it is light up at night. The Church is listed for preservation
for the national interest. Beside Christ Church is the old Erasmus Smith School House. Built in 1834, the architecture is worth noting, it is
now the Social Services Center. If you travel on up the street, you will see The Monument of the 1798 insurrection, with its cannons facing
down the Main Street. These guns are an added feature of recent years.
Turning at this point, travel back down the Main Street. Take a detour at the Market Square to see the Methodist Church. Built in 1834, it's
the towns oldest church. Also in the Market Square is the Old Cemetery where the remains of Bishop Thomas Ram are buried, who's
family were responsible for Gorey's fine layout.
Back on the Main Street, carry on past the Market House where you will see the Irish Permanent. This was the site of Bishop Ram's
Palace, which was built about 1620, but has long since gone. It was Bishop Thomas Ram who constituted a corporate town under a charter
dated 19th October 1619 called The Town of Newborough. This was the foundation of Gorey, although there was a nucleus of a town here
since 1296. The Ram family determined the Administration of Gorey affairs for three centuries

At the bottom of the Main Street, turn down Saint Michael's Road, this will bring you to Saint Michael's Church. This is a beautiful and
spacious structure, distinguished by its massive square tower. The Church was designed by the famous Pugin.
Rynvanney House in Rafter street built in 1814 was a former R.I.C. Barrack and a nursing home.

CLONATTIN


About half a mile in distance from the town, Clonattin has a burial ground dating back to the fifth century and the remains of a small
monastic church are still evident. The cholera outbreaks during and after the famine, recorded that many of the paupers who died were
brought from the old Gorey union workhouse and buried in communal graves at Clonattin.

RAMSTOWN


Some old workhouse buildings still stand in Ramstown, also the site of Gorey Leather Factory (1936 - 1979). The beautiful entrance hall of
the old work-house, has recently been restored as a dwelling house.

LIMBRICK


Limbrick, three miles north of Gorey has interesting historical and legendary associations. It's old name was Luimneach Laighean, Limerick
of Leinster. Historical writers assert that Saint Patrick on his visitation of Leinster in 450 A.D. came to this place to meet his friend
Dubhtach, the Bard. According to Keating, the lands hereabouts including Limbrick, were in ancient times known as Formael na bFiain, and
in the third century formed the territory of Finn son of Cumhaill - Finn Mac Cool.



COMORADH '98 IN GOREY

As with all of County Wexford Gorey has played it's part in the bi-centenary commemorations of 1798. The popular uprising of that year
was arguably the most historic event ever to have taken place in Wexford. While other areas of the Country also aspired to the maxim
"LIBERTY, EQUALITY, and FRATERNITY", our county was most rebellous and better organised. Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter
rose up to fight a system that had kept the peasant classes in utter poverty. The people of Wexford gave their lives for their beliefs. perhaps
30.000 died in the short few weeks of May and June 1798. It is surely fitting that all should be comemorated in this Bi-Centenary year. The
ascendancy classes also suffered severe losses. Let us not forge to remember all in our prayers! In Gorey town on the 4th of June a
wreath laying ceremony took place at the 1798 Monuments at McCurtain Street and Gorey Hill. On June 14th an Ecumenical Service took
place in Christ Church . On the week-end of June 26th to 28th the annual Byrne-Perry summer School takes place (see entertainment
section for details). The highlight of Gorey's participation was a Pageant held in the grounds of Gorey Community School on Sunday 2nd of
August. This re-enacted some of the battles of 1798 and some of the celebrations that followed. participants came from all over North
Wexford and beyond. Ballyellis was the scene of a fierce battle and this event was marked by a pageant and other events on June 26th to
28th. On June 27th Music for Wexford presents "THE VIENNA FILM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA" in Gorey Theatre Hall. On
July 5th Craanford Monaseed held their commeration. Myles Byrne was reared in this parish.




This page was made by Gorey Tourist Information Office and is based in the North Wexford Tourist Guide Made By Gorey Junior
Chambers
The Market Ho., Main St. Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland.
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