Oyster Lane is a historical pedestrian lane that connects Wexford Quay and South Main Street in Wexford Town.
The lane was named for its role as the centre of the oyster trade in the town. From medieval times onward, it was lined with taverns that sold oysters harvested from Wexford Harbour. Merchants advertised these products by piling oyster shells outside their doors.
In 1974, construction works in Oyster Lane uncovered fragments of medieval pottery, prompting a full excavation that revealed leather fragments, oyster shells, bronze pins, a “thick” stone wall from the 1600s, and over 900 potsherds. The findings provided evidence of medieval activity in the area and pointed to a healthy trade between medieval Wexford and France, with fragments of French pottery among the potsherds.
No evidence of Wexford’s Viking past was uncovered during the excavation. In his book, Wexford: A Town and Its Landscape, local historian Billy Colfer notes that the area around Oyster Lane would have been much closer to the shoreline at the time and may not have been utilised until after the land around Paul Quay had been reclaimed.
A 15th-century tower house called Stafford’s Castle once stood between Oyster Lane and Stonebridge. The Stafford family built and occupied the tower house, which later served as a county jail until Wexford Gaol was built in 1812. In its final years, it served as a workhouse. The castle was demolished in 1866, and the site was later “rebuilt” as shops and private dwellings.
The demolition of the former Tesco site on Crescent Quay in 2023 opened up the area into a wide public space now called the Oyster Lane Plaza. The adjoining Dun Mhuire Theatre was also demolished during the same period.
The plaza was used for events during Wexford’s hosting of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2024 and 2025. Wexford County Council obtained planning approval for a temporary car park on the site and proposed a 400-seat modular performance venue, but those plans collapsed in February 2024 due to cost overruns. The council holds a lease on the plaza site until 2031.
Since the plaza opened, it has become associated with anti-social behaviour. Reports from 2026 described the area as a hotspot for daytime drinking. Councillor Leonard Kelly said up to 15 people could be seen drinking cans at the plaza on any given day.
The council has acknowledged that its ability to manage the site is restricted because a private entity owns part of the land. Councillors have called for the space to be given a permanent purpose, such as a Christmas market, food trucks, or a family-friendly area.
Map
A Google Map showing the location of Oyster Lane in Wexford Town: