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| WEXFORD TOWN.-The name of this celebrated place comes from the Danish "Weisford," by some authorities translated "white inlet," and by others "washed by the sea." It was captured by Robert Fitzstephan, who led "Strongbow's van" in 1169, and became, for a time, the headquarters of the first Norman invaders. Henry II. sailed from there, for England, in 1173. It fell into the hands of Cromwell, through the treachery of the Anglo-Irish captain, James Stafford, who had command of the castle, in October, 1649. On this occasion 2,000 surrendered soldiers were put to the sword, and 300 maids and matrons, the flower of Wexford's fair womanhood, were butchered, by order of the cruel regicide, at the foot of the great cross, planted in the public square. The married women begged mercy for their infants, but in vain. Cromwell was determined to repeat the horrid tragedy of Drogheda, and the beautiful and innocent were doomed to die. In the great Irish rebellion of 1798, Wexford played a conspicuous part. It was taken and held by the insurgents after the capture of Enniscorthy, and remained three weeks in their possession, under the governship of Matthew Keogh, who finally mad terms with his prisoner, Lord Kingsborough, which were repudiated by General Lake. The latter entered the town, at the head of his army, and had Governor Keogh and other leaders hanged. Wexford is situated on the south side of the Slaney, where it enters the harbor. |
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