Renewed calls for museum in Wexford town as ceremony remembers ‘forgotten ones' at Paupers' Graveyard
Reflective of a dark period of Wexford's history, many of those buried there came from the old Wexford Union Workhouse, which later became the old Wexford Hospital. The graveyard also contains the remains of the victims of the 1859 'Pomona' shipwreck – a fact discovered by local historian Monica Crofton – and last year a special memorial was unveiled in their honour.
The Paupers' Graveyard is filled with little-known stories that paint a picture of the history of Wexford and Chairperson of the Wexford Memorial Trust Helen Corish Wylde once again used the occasion of the annual patron to call for a dedicated space to tell Wexford's story.
With Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne present, Ms Corish Wylde sought a commitment to establishing a museum in Wexford town, noting that Waterford, by comparison, has at least six.
Noting the importance of the Wexford County Archive in Ardcavan, she pointed out that viewing documents, collections and artefacts online was not the same as seeing the history of the town with your own eyes.
"To fully appreciate their significance, we need a Wexford Town Centre Museum,' she said. 'It's vital that the story of Wexford is not hidden away; that our treasures are on view for all to see in a modern interactive museum for present and future generations.
"It would also increase the footfall in Wexford and substantially boost the economic growth of the town.
Ms Corish Wylde noted that a museum could convey Wexford's fascinating history in an engaging and informative manner and could include a section dedicated to what life was like in the Wexford Union Workhouse.
'By learning about our ancestors who suffered undue hardship and deprivation, forced to emigrate or enter the workhouse, we can learn to have more compassion and empathy for people today who face homelessness and isolation and for displaced people from other countries forced to flee their homeland due to famine, war and persecution,' she concluded.
The poignant event was well-attended as always, with the HFC Band and the Wexford Male Voice Choir providing a fitting soundtrack as wreaths were laid by Mayor Catherine 'Biddy' Walsh, Minister James Browne and a whole host of community groups.
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