Must-See Ferry History Exhibition for Irish Sea Rally Crews

Must-See Ferry History Exhibition for Irish Sea Rally Crews

With Irish crews returning from Rali Ceredigion today and the upcoming Wexford Stages and Cork 20 fast approaching, the endless stream of service vans, trailers, and rally cars passing through Rosslare Europort is a sharp reminder of how vital Irish Sea crossings are to keeping the sport on the move.

If you are catching a boat over the coming weeks, make sure to build in time to check out the newly extended Rosslare–Fishguard ferry exhibition inside the main terminal building.

120 years of Rosslare–Fishguard history proves a major hit as crowds flock to Rosslare Europort

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford – 31 August 2026

A major exhibition celebrating 120 years of the Rosslare–Fishguard ferry service has been extended following a hugely successful opening week, with organisers saying the public response has been far greater than expected.

The exhibition, organised by the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre, opened at Rosslare Europort last week and has attracted visitors from across Wexford and the wider South East, including former passengers, retired ferry workers, families and maritime enthusiasts.

Following the exceptional response, the exhibition has now been extended and will remain open daily at Rosslare Europort.

The exhibition tells the story of one of Ireland’s most important international transport links, which began operating between Rosslare and Fishguard in 1906.

Featuring a unique collection of historic photographs, memorabilia and personal stories, it recalls generations of passengers and crew who travelled the route and the important role the service played in connecting Wexford and the wider South East with Wales and beyond.

For organisers, however, it has been the personal memories generated by the exhibition that have proved particularly special.

“We genuinely didn’t know what to expect, but the response has been overwhelming,” said Sean Boyce of the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre.

“People have been coming through the exhibition and immediately starting to tell us their own stories — about travelling on the ferries as children, working on board, meeting family members on the route or simply waiting at Rosslare Harbour for a crossing. It has brought back an incredible amount of memories.”

The exhibition has also highlighted the strong historical connection between Rosslare and Waterford, with generations of passengers travelling by rail from Waterford and the wider South East to connect with the ferry service at Rosslare Harbour.

“This wasn’t just a ferry route between two ports. It was part of the social and economic fabric of the South East for generations,” said Mr Boyce.

“The railway, the ferry and the communities around Rosslare were all connected. That is a really important part of the story we wanted to tell, and the response we’ve received shows just how much that history still means to people.”

The decision to extend the exhibition means that people who missed the opening week will now have another opportunity to visit and explore the collection.

The organisers are also encouraging anyone with photographs, memories or stories relating to the Rosslare–Fishguard service to get in touch, as the exhibition continues to develop through contributions from the public.

The 120th Anniversary Rosslare–Fishguard Exhibition is now open daily at Rosslare Europort.

Admission is free.

Further information, photographs and updates are available through the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre’s social media channels.

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