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The
famous Wexford Bullring was recently given a
total facelift to commemorate the Bi-centenary of
the 1798 Rebellion.
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The area was
originally a beach where boats were
drawn up laden with produce bound for the town's
markets.
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It got its present name from the
medieval sport of
Bull-baiting, introduced to the town by the Butchers'
Guild.
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From 1621 until 1770, bulls were baited twice a year and their |
Wexford Bullring
with Pikeman Statue |
hides presented to
the Mayor. According to
tradition, Cromwell's soldiers massacred part of the civilian
population here in October 1649. Then, during the 1798 rebellion, the
Bullring became
an open-air armaments factory, making and repairing
pikes and other weapons
for the insurgents.
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Wexford Bullring
2006
Photo by James Busher |
Over the years the Bullring has been the venue of many political
rallies and protests : Daniel O'Connell,
Charles Stewart Parnell, John Redmond, James Larkin and
Eamonn de Valera are among the many political figures who
have
addressed audiences in this historic square at the heart
of Wexford.
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A 'Tree of
Liberty", an oak, was planted in the centre of the
Bullring, and embedded in
the
ground behind the Pikeman
statue is a 'time capsule' taking the form of a
metal cylinder
containing items reflective of Wexford life today.
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The limestone setts
which sit on either side of the monument
feature inscriptions
relating
to |
Pikeman
Statue
at the Wexford Bullring |
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1798 while bollards in the shape of cannonballs line the area. |
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Lime trees have been
planted at a number of points.
The re-construction of the
Bullring was
carried out as a 1798
bicentenary project and was officially opened on 31st May,
1998 by President Mary
McAleese. |
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