A Historic View of Gorey

The historic Market House which is on Main Street Gorey, is a Victorian style building which is now the local government administrative centre and houses the unique chiming clock. This old 18th century building was rebuilt in 1709 and is currently used as the meeting place for the Gorey Town Councillors. It is also the location of the North Wexford Tourist Office. During the 1798 insurrection prisoners were held here. The building is listed as a place of regional historic interest.

The street has many old fashioned shop-fronts - Browne's Pub, Myles Doyle, Hughie Doyle's, the 64 Restaurant and McGovern’s Lounge are among the shop-fronts listed for protection. Take note of the Stakeout Diner whose fine premises are protected for regional interest.

At the top of the Main Street is the Court House. Built in 1819, it was burned down in 1922 but was rebuilt shortly afterwards. Beside the Court House is the Church of Ireland. Christ Church was erected in 1861, and boasts some magnificent stained glass windows. The structure of the Church with its tower is beautiful and this is highlighted when it is illuminated at night. The Church is listed for preservation for the national interest. Beside Christ Church is the old Erasmus Smith School House. Built in 1834, the architecture is worth noting, it is now the Social Services Centre.

If you travel on up the street, you will see The Monument of the 1798 insurrection, with its cannons facing down the Main Street. These guns are an added feature of recent years.

In the Market Square, Gorey's designated casual trading area, you will find the Methodist Church. Built in 1834, it's the town’s oldest church. Also in the Market Square is the Old Cemetery where the remains of Bishop Thomas Ram are buried, whose family were responsible for Gorey's fine layout. The location of the Irish Permanent offices on the Main street was the site of Bishop Ram's Palace, which was built about 1620, but has long since gone. It was Bishop Thomas Ram who constituted a corporate town under a charter dated 19th October 1619 called The Town of Newborough. This was the foundation of Gorey, although there was a nucleus of a town here since 1296. The Ram family determined the Administration of Gorey affairs for three centuries.