Attributes

The attributes of the South Wexford Coast are the inherent qualities or features that are part of that particular coastal strip. Acting in combination, these attributes characterise the South Wexford Coast and make it a special, if not unique, place. The South Wexford Coast is unique for the following six reasons.

  1. County Wexford is the only county in Ireland with a coastline on two seas: the east coast of the county adjoins the Irish Sea whereas the south coast fronts onto the Celtic Sea. The dividing line between the two seas extends from Carnsore Point in Ireland to St David’s Head in Wales and supports the Celtic Sea Front, a critical area for biodiversity and the boundary between the shallower, mixed water of the Irish Sea and the deeper, layered waters of the Celtic Sea.
  2. The shoreline from Carnsore Point to Cullenstown is Ireland’s Great Barrier Coast, the best example in the country or a barrier/lagoon shoreline.
  3. The diverse range of habitats, including sand dunes, lagoons, estuaries, mudflats, and saltmarshes, support the only places in Ireland where wild plants like Cottonweed, Perennial Glasswort, Wild Asparagus, Scrambled-egg Lichen, and Convergent Stonewort are found.
  4. Lady’s Island Lake supports the largest mixed tern colony in Ireland and is the second largest colony in Europe of breeding Roseate Terns in Europe. It is also the only site in Europe where five species of tern breed.
  5. The exceptionally rich wildlife that the South Wexford Coast supports is reflected in the high concentration of internationally important marine, coastal, and maritime Natura 2000 sites ranging from the breeding seabird colonies on the Saltee Islands to the reefs at Hook Head and that headland’s internationally important fossil biodiversity.
  6. The ‘Seas off Wexford’ is the largest Special Protection Area (SPA) in Ireland, a major area for seabirds, and a unique marine protected area.

The attributes of the South Wexford Coast are grouped here as follows:-

  • Its protected areas.
  • Its physical environment.
  • Its biodiversity.