Place names are not as unique as you might think. For example, in the Burgundy region of eastern France, you might happen upon a small agricultural village called London, which was the focus of a Paddy Power ambush marketing campaign back in 2012. While the 2012 Summer Olympics were taking place in London, England; the bookmaker company decided to erect a number of billboards that read: “Official sponsor of the largest athletics event in London this year. (Ahem, London, France, that is).”
The company had sponsored an egg-and-spoon race that was taking place in the village.
If you do a bit of online research, you’ll quickly realise that some of the common place names in County Wexford are also prevalent throughout other parts of the world. In fact; we often receive emails and Facebook messages from businesses that are situated in these areas, with many of them making the assumption that our website is dedicated to their hometown!
Wexford County, Michigan.
In the American state of Michigan, there is a county called Wexford, which has a population of over 30,000 people. Originally, it was called “Kautawabet”, which is a Native American term that translates into the English phrase “broken tooth”. However, in 1843, legislators decided to rename it after County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland. The county town of Wexford County is a place called Cadillac, which has a population of 10,355 people.
The Cadillac museum in Wexford County, Michigan. The sign reads “Wexford County Historical Society Museum”
Wexford, Pennsylvania.
Wexford is a small community in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The first settlers in the area were German and Irish immigrants, one of which was an Irish man by the name of Martin Byrne. Byrne, who was from County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland, was one of the key settlers in the area. Not only did he work to draw missionaries to the area, he was also the community’s first postman. The first Catholic mass to be held in Wexford, Pennsylvania, was at Martin Byrne’s log cabin!
Interesting note: A couple of years ago, the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsylvania established links with members of the fire service in County Wexford, Ireland. The volunteer fire service currently has a write-up about our home county on their website.
The Wexford Elementary School in Pennsylvania.
Wexford, Toronto.
In the Canadian city of Toronto, you will come across a neighbourhood called Wexford. The neighbourhood began as a small crossroad community back in 1840; with a place called The Rising Sun Inn acting as its main focal point. The inn was owned by a man called Richard Sylvester, who was originally from County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland. A few years after its establishment, a post office was added to the inn, with Sylvester deciding to name it after his home county in Ireland. From that time onward, the area officially became known as Wexford.
New Ross, Nova Scotia.
In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, you’ll find a small village called New Ross, which is named after Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave. Phipps’ second title was Baron Mulgrave, of New Ross.
New Ross, Indiana.
New Ross is a small town in the American state of Indiana. It got its name from the name of its post office, which was called the New Ross Post Office (established in 1836 inside the home of postmaster George Dorsey).
Gorey, Jersey.
On the small island of Jersey, exists a small town called Gorey, which was in use as a fortified area since the Iron Age. In Gorey, Jersey, you’ll find the castle of Mont Orgueil, which was built back in the 11th Century. This castle is sometimes referred to as “Gorey Castle”.
