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Concerns for future of tourist office on Wexford Quay

The tourist office on Wexford quay which has been closed since Covid hit.

Pádraig Byrne
© Wexford People

DESPITE Wexford being one of the busiest holiday destinations in the country this summer, in the year of the “staycation”, things remained quite at the Fáilte Ireland office on the quayfront. As a buzz returned to the town with the re-opening of shops, bars and cafés, the doors at Wexford town’s tourist office remained locked and inside everything remained untouched since Covid-19 first reached our shores and ground everything to a halt.

It’s now unclear whether that’s likely to change any time soon either, as Wexford County Council seeks updates from Fáilte Ireland in relation to the prominent building on the quay. Throughout the summer, inquisitive tourists were served by a temporary, mobile tourist office put in place by Wexford Bus right outside a building that was constructed for that very purpose; something which raised more than a few eyebrows.

Having raised the issue on numerous occasions previously, Cllr Leonard Kelly brought the issue to the floor of the latest meeting of Wexford County Council, seemingly confused as to why this building was being left idle when it was clearly required and almost everything has re-opened with the relaxation of Covid restrictions.

"By all accounts its been a very successful year for tourism in Wexford,” Cllr Kelly said. “I’d like an update from Bord Fáilte regarding their very prominent building on the quay and whether they intend to have it manned again any time soon.”

Head of Enterprise at Wexford County Council Liz Hore replied that: “The council has raised the issue with Fáilte Ireland. I know that Visit Wexford have also expressed concerns over the re-opening of the tourist office and they have made their views known to Fáilte Ireland. They’ve said that they will review it. I’ll seek a further update from them and let them know that it has been raised by the members again.”