3. TNW Yellow Bellies

As you cycle along, we thought you’d like to hear more about Wexford itself, its nicknames and their origins including the famous sobriquet, ‘the Yellow Bellies’. Wexford and its denizens have many names that need some explanation to the inquisitive visitor. On the signs, it is referred to in Irish as Loch Garman and in English as Wexford, a name that has Norse provenance being 'Waesfjord' meaning 'inlet (fjord) of the mud-flats' in the Old Norse language. In pre-Norman times the are was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, with its capital at Ferns. The County was formed in Norman times having been created in 1210 by King John during his visit to Ireland.  Due to its sunny climate, it grows the greatest number of strawberries on the island and is referred to as the strawberry county - look out for the strawberry fair every July in Enniscorthy. The giveaway as to why it is also referred to as 'the model county' can be found in the official motto of the county, 'Exemplar Hiberniae'  and while the more formal version has it that its progressive farming methods and model farms were the envy of the rest of the island, waspish wags have suggested it was coined by the English due to Wexford ancestors' willingness to roll over and be subordinate!  More curiously, its people are commonly known as the Yellow Bellies. This sobriquet is said to have been first applied to a Wexford hurling team raised by Sir Caesar Colclough, (pronounced Cogley) which won a challenge match in Cornwall in the reign of William III of England. The Norman Way, Wexford, Forth and BargySee https://www.racontour.com/the-norman-way/ for more content on south WexfordEmail [email protected]