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heritage · Saturday 1 August 2026 · 2:00pm 
Battle of Vinegar Hill Re-enactment
At Vinegar Hill · Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
At Vinegar Hill · Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Each August, Enniscorthy returns to the summer of 1798. The Battle of Vinegar Hill Re-enactment brings the most decisive engagement of the United Irishmen Rebellion back to the ground where it actually happened - professional re-enactors from Ireland, Britain, and further afield taking the roles of pike-wielding rebels and musket-carrying Redcoats in a full-scale recreation that is loud, dramatic, and genuinely moving. It suits families, history enthusiasts, and anyone with even a passing interest in what shaped modern Ireland.
The re-enactment runs across the August bank holiday weekend and unfolds in two acts. On the Saturday, the rebels storm and capture Enniscorthy town. On the Sunday, the focus shifts to the hill itself, where Crown forces under General Lake mount their assault - the same assault that, on 21 June 1798, effectively ended the Wexford phase of the rebellion. Cannon fire, musket volleys, cavalry charges, and pike rushes fill the hillside, with historical commentary helping you follow the tactical story as it plays out.
Between the battles, the site comes alive with living history. At the rebel camp, commanders recruit visitors - young ones especially - for pike training. Blacksmiths hammer out weapons and shoe horses on site. Craft markets and traditional entertainment run alongside the main programme. Crowds regularly reach 5,000, so arriving before the 2pm start gives you a better choice of vantage point. The ruined windmill at the hilltop, which stood on the original battlefield and appears in period illustrations, provides a striking backdrop throughout.
Enniscorthy sits on the N11/M11 Dublin-to-Wexford road, roughly 85km south of Dublin and 25km north of Wexford town. By rail, Enniscorthy station is on the Dublin Heuston to Rosslare Europort line and a short walk into town. Vinegar Hill lies immediately south of the town centre; a small laneway off the main road leads up to a carpark near the summit. On a busy bank holiday weekend, parking fills quickly - arriving early or walking up from town parking is a practical option.
The National 1798 Rebellion Centre in the town tells the full story of the rebellion through displays, artefacts, and a 4D Vinegar Hill experience - a worthwhile companion visit before or after the re-enactment. There is more to see in Enniscorthy and across Co. Wexford.
Heading to Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy? Wexford has plenty more to see. Read the Enniscorthy area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.