Peter Street

Peter Street in Wexford Town is a small street that runs from St. Peter’s Square to South Main Street. It also connects with Mary’s Lane and St. Patrick’s Square at the end of High Street. It takes its name from the parish of St. Peter’s, one of the original Norse-Irish parishes in Wexford Town.

Peter Street, Wexford
Peter Street, where it meets South Main Street and Cinema Lane. The photographs, taken in 2014, show a street that has since changed considerably. The former Uncle Sam’s fast food restaurant appears in the distance. Snip It Barber Shop and the former South East Records (closed), which sold vinyl records, are on the left. Ann Marie’s Barber Shop also appears on the street, along with Minstrel Music, which has since closed.

The street also bears the name Gibson Street or Gibson Lane, after William Gibson, who owned malt stores in the area. Colman Doyle Homestores later owned the buildings. After the owner died in 2020, the estate administrators sold the buildings at auction in September 2023. It has also been called Hay’s Lane, after Hay’s Castle.

The lane connecting Peter Street with St. Patrick’s Square and High Street is called Patrick’s Lane:

Patrick's Lane
Patrick’s Lane in Wexford.

Historically, Patrick’s Lane also bore the name Foundry Lane, after Donnelly’s Foundry.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Peter Street itself was the centre of the corn trade in Wexford Town. The old malt houses stored malted corn that was later transported to the Guinness breweries in Dublin. Today, the buildings largely serve as warehouses.

Peter’s Gate once stood at the top of the street, near where it meets St. Peter’s Square. The gate was taken down in the 18th century to accommodate rising traffic.

Map

A map showing its location:

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