Courtown Seal Rescue

County Wexford


Tucked behind Courtown harbour, 35km northeast of Enniscorthy off the M11, this volunteer-run centre rescues orphaned, lost and injured seals and rehabilitates them before releasing them back into the environment. A tour takes you behind the scenes to meet the seals, which you can sponsor and follow online. The duration of the tour varies depending on how many seals are present (call ahead to check); there's also a gift shop, with proceeds helping the seals.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby County Wexford attractions

1. St Edan's Cathedral

11.85 MILES

Built in early Gothic style in 1817, Ferns' 'modern' cathedral is thought to be the smallest in Europe. Its graveyard contains a high cross, said to mark…

2. Ferns Castle

12.1 MILES

Ferns Castle was built around 1220, but parliamentarians destroyed the castle and executed most of the local population during Cromwell's rampage through…

3. Wicklow Brewery

16.99 MILES

Engaging hour-long tours at this craft brewery guide you through the brewing process, from milling local grains to mashing, whirlpooling, fermenting,…

4. Vinegar Hill

17.05 MILES

Scene of one of the most important battles of Ireland's 1798 rebellion against British rule, this hill just outside Enniscorthy is topped with a memorial…

5. Enniscorthy Castle

17.54 MILES

This stout, four-towered keep was originally built by the Normans; like much else in these parts, it was surrendered to Cromwell in 1649. During the 1798…

6. Athenaeum

17.56 MILES

Built as a theatre and town hall in 1892, the Athenaeum became the headquarters for Enniscorthy's volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising. A small museum…

7. St Aidan's Cathedral

17.62 MILES

Restored to its original glory (check out the star-spangled roof), this dazzling Roman Catholic cathedral (1846) was designed by Augustus Pugin, the…

8. National 1798 Rebellion Centre

17.81 MILES

This exhibition does a fine job of explaining the background to one of Ireland's pivotal historical events. It covers the French and American revolutions,…