Selskar Abbey is a ruined medieval abbey in the heart of Wexford Town. Although the original abbey was built in the 12th century, several indications suggest the area was home to an earlier Christian site that likely predated the arrival of the Vikings in 800 AD. Other sources suggest it was also the location of a pre-Christian temple dedicated to the Norse god Odin. This ecclesiastical site would have overlooked the River Slaney, as the land past Redmond Square was not reclaimed until later years. Parts of the abbey complex existed inside and outside Wexford’s town wall, and the prominent stone gate at Westgate would have provided access to the part of the abbey that remains today.
Local historians have suggested that the name Selskar may be a corruption of St. Sepulchre, a term often used to refer to the tomb of Jesus Christ. An alternative theory holds that the name derives from the old Norse phrase “seal skar,” meaning “seal rock.” This theory is also considered plausible, as the River Slaney was close to the area and an outcrop is believed to have existed nearby.
In 1169, the first Anglo-Irish treaty was signed on the grounds of the abbey. Diarmait Mac Murchada, who had been exiled from the country by the High King of Ireland, returned to the shores of County Wexford with a sizeable force of Norman soldiers provided by King Henry II of England. This force immediately laid siege to Wexford Town. Although they met fierce resistance from the Norse inhabitants of the town, the siege was eventually lifted when the Bishop of Ferns persuaded the townspeople to surrender.
Local tradition holds that King Henry II of England stayed at the abbey during Lent in 1172 to do penance for the murder of Thomas Becket. Henry was in Ireland that year to consolidate his power and oversee the Anglo-Norman knights, but the story of his penitential visit is based on folklore rather than documented historical fact. Henry’s official absolution for the murder occurred in May 1172 at Avranches Cathedral in France. Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in 1170 after Henry’s men misinterpreted some of his words.
The archbishop was known for excommunicating anyone who opposed him. When news arrived that Becket had excommunicated three bishops, the king reportedly said, “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” Several sources suggest a severe storm stranded the king in Wexford Town.
Authorities forced Selskar Abbey to close in 1542 before handing it over to the Master of the Rolls in Ireland. After its closure, the site continued to be used as a Protestant place of worship.
The abbey’s conversion into a Protestant place of worship likely spared it from the fate of other churches in the area, such as St. Peter’s Church. After Oliver Cromwell sacked the town in October 1649, the walls of Wexford Castle were left in a poor state of repair. Bricks and stones from several Catholic churches were subsequently taken to repair them. Over the years, stones from these churches were also sold off as building materials. Anti-Catholic legislation and a Protestant Wexford magistrate aided this dismantling.
The Church of Ireland restored the tower in 1826. However, the decision to build Selskar Church within the grounds was controversial, as parts of the abbey had to be dismantled to make way for it, including the altar and the space around it. The Church of Ireland refurbished the 14th-century tower and used it as a sacristy and belfry. It is closed to the public, as the stairway is so narrow it can only be climbed on hands and knees. The middle floor of the tower remains intact, while the top floor has a narrow platform extending around the outside of the walls.
Selskar Church had a slated roof until the 1950s, as documented in several black-and-white photographs. During that decade, Wexford’s population was declining and the Church of Ireland found it increasingly difficult to maintain two places of worship in the town, the other being St. Iberius Church on North Main Street. As a result, the Church of Ireland decided to close Selskar Church and focus on St. Iberius. To avoid paying taxes on the now-disused building, the Anglican community subsequently removed the slated roof, allowing it to be classified as a ruin.
A small carved stone head sits above the window on the western side of the 14th-century tower. This is called a “grotesque,” also known as a chimera, and was likely added for decorative purposes. Some refer to it as a gargoyle, though this is incorrect. Gargoyles contain a water spout through the mouth to transfer water from a roof and away from the side of a building. This helps prevent rainwater from eroding the mortar between masonry walls. This is not the case with the carving at Selskar Abbey.
The grounds of Selskar Abbey are closed to the public, but walking tours of the site are available. Informational posters about these tours are available on the abbey gates. More information is available at the heritage centre next to Westgate Tower.
Map
There are three gates: one at Abbey Street, one at Selskar Court, and one at Tower Court. The Tower Court gate is the most used, as it is located beside the heritage centre.