New public gardens which celebrate some of the town's historic links as well as providing an amenity for locals and visitors has been officially opened in New Ross.
The High Hill Norman Garden has been developed by Wexford County Council with funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development.
It is part of the New Ross Tourism Transformation Project and was opened today by Minister Heather Humphreys during a visit to the county and projects funded to the tune of €5.56 million.
The Norman Gardens are located in the centre of the original town of New Ross, in a place where large medieval buildings once stood before being replaced by stone townhouses and commercial premises.
As well as tracing a path through the town’s long history, the gardens also celebrate William Marshal and Isabel de Clare, who founded New Ross in the late 12th century as an inland port, following the arrival in Ireland of their fellow Normans.
The High Hill in New Ross included traces of the area’s medieval past although the streets which were once present were largely developed in the 19th century.
Now the gardens draped over the hill have a number of walking routes and rest areas as well as many viewing points to take in the scenery.
"New Ross is a town with a vibrant history and it is fantastic to see this history brought alive here today on High Hill," Minister Humphreys said.
The minister also travelled to Ferns where she officially opened a community gym and walking track lights at St Aidan's GAA Club; opened the Community Development Centre extension at Clongeen; and turned the sod of the Bannow Bay Estuary Blueway at Little Sea near Wellingtonbridge.
When complete, this blueway will connect Little Sea and the Bannow Estuary with the villages of Wellingtonbridge and Foulksmills as well as providing access and water sports facilities.
She also opened the Our Lady’s Island Community Project and the High Meadows Community Hub in Clonard in Wexford town, which will be used by the 13th Wexford Scout Group.
