Summerhill is a road in Wexford Town, best known for its historical landmarks and institutions. It serves as a residential road and main thoroughfare with buildings dating back to the 18th century.
Summerhill runs from Clonard Road and the GAA Park to the roundabout between Talbot Green, Grogan’s Road, and Waterloo Road.
The name, which is common throughout Ireland, historically described steep inclines and paths that were only passable during finer weather. During winter, wet weather turned these dirt paths into muddy slush, making them difficult to use.
The Bishop’s House
The oldest landmark on Summerhill is the Bishop’s House, a 20‑acre property originally called Summerhill House. It appears on Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) maps from the 1800s. The Devereux family built the house during the late 18th century. Today, it acts as the administrative centre for the Diocese of Ferns.
St. Peter’s College
St. Peter’s College, a Catholic secondary school for boys, sits on Summerhill. Most Reverend Patrick Ryan, the Bishop of Ferns at the time, founded it in 1811. It began as a Catholic Seminary on Michael Street before moving there in 1819. Until 1997, St. Peter’s College operated a boarding school. The following year, the seminary closed, and the remaining 10 clergy students transferred to other institutions in the region.
It has over 750 students and over 80 teaching staff. John Banville is the principal.
The Mercy Nuns
In 1842, the Sisters of Mercy took over the Redmond Talbot Orphanage, which sits close to where Summerhill Heights is today. There, they operated a primary school and a children’s home, which they officially named the Sisters of Mercy convent. In the past, the orphanage received national media attention because of its similarities with the Magdalene laundries. Those who attended the home have spoken out about its past, describing it as “more akin to a slave labour institution than a training centre.” They stated that students were forced to work 12 hours a day, between 7am and 7pm.
HSE Mental Health Centre
The HSE Mental Health Centre at the bottom of the road provides a community mental health service, as well as support to those with intellectual disabilities and substance addictions.
Other
Two residential estates sit on the road: College Green and Pine Ridge. It is also home to Highfield Veterinary Wexford Town, previously called Summerhill Veterinary Hospital.
Map
A map showing its location: