New Ross Street Focus

04/08/2025

Great promo for New Ross

04/08/2025

NEW ROSS, AN OVER-CHURCHED TOWN

An unusual and interesting description below of 14th century New Ross.
An indication of the wealth of the town.

02/08/2025

CROMWELL AND THE SIEGE OF NEW ROSS 1649

Cromwell’s forces approached New Ross and found Ormonde and his army – little more than 5,000 men at this point – gone, having retreated west to avoid the coming assault, destroying the bridge as they did so. Butler clearly did not feel ready to take Cromwell on in such circumstances, and was content to simply wait and see, with numerous strongholds barring Cromwell’s path. He expected New Ross to prove itself one of those strongholds, with a garrison of over 2,000 men left to counter the coming attack, all under the command of a Sir Lucas Taaffe. But Taaffe, while a relatively junior officer, was no fool, realising that New Ross would be no more able to stand up to a Parliamentarian artillery attack than Drogheda or Wexford had been. According to Taaffe, Ormonde gave him permission to negotiate the surrender of the town if the walls were breached, but probably with the addendum that such a surrender must include the safety of the defenders. Ormonde appears to have a different opinion, and was prepared to reinforce Ross if necessary. But, in truth, New Ross was probably expected to be little more than a delay for Cromwell, as the Royalists’ main force formed its plans elsewhere.

01/08/2025

IF YOU THINK PAYING FOR YOUR PARKING IN MODERN DAY NEW ROSS IS BAD…. READ ON !

An account of medieval tolls payable at the toll-stall ( Tholsel ) :
The stranger who entered the town by the bridge must pay a bridge toll, or portage. This went to defray the capital expended in building the bridge & to maintain it in repair. If he entered through a gate of the town he must pay murage which went to the upkeep & repair of the walls. Murage was often accepted in the form of a specified part of the goods carried by the stranger into the town for sale. Pontage & murage were usually collected on the bridge or at the gate. All but the inhabitants of the town & a defined area about it must pay a toll merely to enter the market place. The visiting dealer who erected a stall during fair or market was made to pay stallage, or boothage. The moment a dealer, if not a burgess, exposed his wares on stall or on the ground, he was liable for scavage. ... All wool entering the town must first be brought to the public "trone" or weighing machine & the toll or tronage paid. These along with a multitude of other tolls made their way directly or indirectly to the toll-stall.

SOURCE: New Ross-Rosponte-Ros Mhic Treoin by Tom Dunne.

31/07/2025

WE’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER DIARY

Yet another date for your diaries folks for Heritage Week in New Ross.
Bookings via Library website or phone.
Wexford County Council

Join Myles and New Ross library for an enlightening evening, where we’ll uncover the heritage hidden in plain sight on the streets of New Ross. Discover the...

31/07/2025

DON'T FORGET YOUR SHOVEL

This extract from the Minute Books of New Ross Corporation dated March 24th 1747 mentions a rather quaint if unattractive municipal appointment.
However the word is that it was a nice little earner.

30/07/2025

TAPESTRY TOURS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

A wonderful turnout today for the two Medieval Route Tours provided courtesy of The Ros Tapestry Bring It Home Festival

30/07/2025

MORE PORTER PLEASE

In the late 17th century goods were moved from the quayside to various parts of the town by members of the Porters Guild of the town.
Charges/fees were listed and the town was zoned for this purpose.
The extracts below from the Minute Books of New Ross Corporation, 1670 give us an insight into this snippet of the town's history.

29/07/2025

TAPESTRY TOURS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

A wonderful turnout today for the two Medieval Route Tours provided courtesy of The Ros Tapestry Bring It Home Festival

29/07/2025

ST STEPHEN'S LITTLE CHAPEL

Located in virtual anonimity in the middle of St, Stephen's Cemetery stands this little relic of our medieval past.

28/07/2025

SUSSING THINGS OUT FOR THE GREATEST KNIGHT

William Marshal married Isabel de Clare in 1189 most likely in London.
By doing so he aquired the title of Earl of Pemroke and Isabel's vast lands in Ireland, Wales and Normandy.
A few years later William dispatched a trusted aide to Ireland to scout out his new territory and it was during that time that the significance of New Ross was arose.