Morriscastle

Morriscastle

*Caisleán Mhurchú*
Morriscastle Caisleán Mhurchú
Village
	Morriscastle Location in Ireland
	Coordinates: 52°30′51″N 6°14′30″W / 52.514153°N 6.241770°W
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Wexford
Irish Grid Reference	T151598

Morriscastle (Irish: Caisleán Mhurchú)^[1] is a coastal village that is situated 2 km from Kilmuckridge village in County Wexford, Ireland. Morriscastle is a tourist destination during the summer months.

Morriscastle Beach

Morriscastle Beach is a part of a number of beaches that stretch for approximately 22 km from Cahore point to Curracloe in County Wexford and this sheltered stretch is known locally as the Golden Mile.^{[citation needed]} Morriscastle Beach is sandy and relatively shallow making it a popular venue for families who stay at caravan parks and campsites in the vicinity.^{[citation needed]} The local population can swell to over 5,000 during the summer months.^{[citation needed]}

Located approximately 2 km from Kilmuckridge village and bordered by a sheltering dune system, this beach is attended by a lifeguard from June until the end of August and it is safe for swimming.^{[citation needed]}

The beach stretches for over 2 km and is surrounded by several holiday parks that offer permanent and seasonal holiday park accommodation.^{[citation needed]}

The beach runs parallel to a wide, deep sand dune system.^{[citation needed]} Lifeguards or lifesaving equipment is provided to ensure the response to an emergency anywhere on this beach.^{[citation needed]}

Morriscastle has also been awarded the Green Coast Beaches award.^[2]

Angling

Moriscastle is regularly used by shore anglers, including for competitions.^{[citation needed]} Specimen-sized fish found in the area include bass, tope, smoothhound, bullhuss, dogfish, spurdog, ray, flounder and dab.^[3] Seals are also sometimes be seen swimming near the shore.^{[citation needed]}

History

Morriscastle was once the site of a medieval Norman Castle and the ruin is visible from the roadway and is part of a national heritage site - Kilmuckridge Tinnaberna Sandhills.^[4] The nearest shipwreck lies off the coast of nearby Ballyconigar beach. The Pomona sank in 1859 losing 380 passengers while sailing from Liverpool to New York.^[5]