The Hook

Hook head is a fantatic place, its steeped in history and has wonderful beaches and coves to visit.
The Hook gives us the phrase, “by hook or by crook” I beleive, its the site of the Norman/English Invasion of Ireland in 1169, the start of an 800 year bitter struggle!
The area is strewn with ruined castles, monasteries and haunted landlords mansion. The lighthouse on the tip of hook head is particarly special, its 800 years old almost standing 100’s of feet high, you can visit it climing to the top, an excellent vantage point. Nearby is Loftus Hall, a 18th Century landlords mansion, that’s said to have been visited by the devil, who was playing cars with guests, when one of the guests dropped a card and wen to pick it off the floor, they saw the cloven foot of the devil, with this he disappeared out the ceiling and this hole was never able to be repaired – good story!
Other notable features in the area include, Dunbrody Abbbey and Ballyhack castle, which once belonged to the knights Templar or hospitaliers. This along with the ferry ride that bring you across the Waterford make the Hook a must see when in Ireland, its a little know gem in Wexford.