New Ross is situated nearly 20 miles inland from the Waterford Harbour entrance on the southeast coast of Ireland. Located on the east side of the River Barrow, this thriving market town and harbour caters for visitors in a marina just south of the town quays.

With its inland river location, New Ross Marina offers complete protection from all conditions. High air clearance vessels require a bridge opening (available by request) to access the River Barrow. The wide, unhindered and well-marked Waterford Harbour estuary provides safe access night or day, and at any stage of the tide.

Tidal streams are a prime consideration within Waterford Harbour; a strong adverse current will make for slow progress, while a favourable passage current will make the estuary quickly traversable.

Keyfacts for New Ross Marina

Position and approaches

Haven position

52° 23.481' N, 006° 57.117' W

On the end of the south western most pontoon in the marina.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 600 metres south by southwest of the Waterford Channel Number 1. starboard-hand marker (Fl.G.2s on a bearing of 009°T). It is directly east of Creadan Head, upon the eastern side of the Waterford Channel where at night you will see the Dunmore East leading lights alternate white/green.

What are the key points of the approach?

Not what you need?

To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

What's the story here?

New Ross is situated nearly 20 miles inland from the Waterford Harbour entrance and on the east side of the River Barrow, 9 miles above its entrance. It is a commercial port and the third-largest town in the county of Wexford, after Wexford and Enniscorthy.




With no designated anchorages at New Ross, the town receives its visitors in New Ross Marina. Formerly known as the Three Sisters Marina, the small, modern, 66-berth facility is situated below the town quays on the east side of the river. The river is deep to New Ross, supporting draughts up to 6.5 metres during springs and 5.2 metres during neaps to the town quays. Likewise, the marina has 2.9 metres at LWS on the outside of the Hammerheads.

New Ross Marina is operated by Wexford County Council and although not continually staffed, it is accessible 24 hours a day. The marina manager will provide berthing instructions over the phone during working hours. The office may be contacted by mobile phone +353 (0) 86 388 9652, newrossmarina@wexfordcoco.ie. The marina does not maintain a VHF watch, but New Ross Port (also Port of New Ross) does and can be availed of for advice. Run by Port of Waterford, it shares the port’s VHF Ch.14 working channel and can be raised by the callsign [Ross Harbour]. It is advisable to notify them of your intention to proceed upriver and to check if they have any planned ship movements. Current berthing fees are posted on the New Ross Marina Rates Page .

With a clearance of about 7.9 metres above the high-water mark, the Barrow Railway Bridge will need to be open for vessels carrying any draught to enter the river. The bridge will open for yachts heading to/from New Ross but requires advance notice of six to 24 hours, and again when an hour away. The bridge may be contacted on +353 (0) 86 816 7826.

Being a four-hour trek from the open sea to New Ross, it would be prudent to contact marina manager Aidan Bates in advance to make berthing arrangements.

How to get in?

Use the Port of Waterford for details of seaward approaches, entry to Waterford Harbour and the run up the estuary to the Barrow Bridge. After rounding Cheekpoint, Kilmokea Power Station and the 14-span Barrow Railway Swing Bridge reveal themselves at the confluence of the rivers Suir and Barrow. Access to the River Barrow requires a passage underneath the Barrow Bridge.




This is a relatively high, steel railway bridge that, even when closed, enables moderately high craft, about 7.9 metres above the high-water mark, to pass unhindered beneath it. Anything higher will require the bridge to be opened, which is available upon request. Phone the bridge staff +353 (0) 86 816 7826 six to 24 hours prior to the planned passage and notify them of the expected time of transit. A second call is often suggested an hour prior to arrival. It is also advisable at this point to notify Port of New Ross of your intention to proceed upriver and check for any planned ship movements, [Ross Harbour] VHF Ch.14.




As the currents are strong here, it is important to line up early for the correct arch; the bridge swivels from a point on the third span from the western side. This is made readily apparent by its high control room set on the top of the turning section.




When the bridge opens, pass through as directed by the signage. There is a separate arch for upstream and downstream traffic passing either side of the central swivel column; pass to port in both cases – ascending vessels through the east opening, descending vessels through the west opening. As large ships use the facility, the correct opening is clearly marked and wide.





From the bridge, it is simply a matter of following the buoyed shipping channel up to New Ross, 9 miles up the River Barrow. The marks commence immediately upriver of the bridge and continue as far as Marshmeadows Oil Jetty, situated ½ mile downriver of the town and marina. The buoys have some distance between them at times, where the normal best practice of keeping to the outside of the rivers bends applies; expect some doglegged between marks to find the deepest water.




A least depth of 2.7 metres will be found all the way to the Oil Jetty, with a least depth of 2 metres in the path from there to the marina.





Immediately above the bridge, the deepwater channel runs close along the western shore; following the marks the first leg takes a vessel up to Ferry Point. Four parallel overhead power cables with a clearance of 40 metres cross the river immediately south of Ferry Point.




The course through the next reach is northeast-by-east for 1½ miles to Dollar Point. Here the river expands and becomes very shallow at points, so it is important to adhere to the channel marks.




Between Dollar Point and Black Rock, the deepwater channel runs close along the eastern shore, with the opposite shore encircled by the Rochestown Spit, which is a sandbank that dries halfway across the river.



A little above Black Rock there is a convenient anchorage in Kearney Bay. In the past, sailing vessels discharged part of their cargoes here before proceeding to New Ross.




The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (road) Bridge, opened in 2020, crosses the river Barrow at Pink Point. It extends more than 300 metres across the river, with about 30 metres of air clearance.

At Stokestown Point, 2 miles above, the river bends suddenly to southeast-by-east for ¾ mile, with the deep water in the middle. Rounding Marsh Point, where Annaghs Castle will be seen near a port buoy, the river then resumes its northeasterly direction, presenting no danger in a mid-channel course as far as Marshmeadows Oil Jetty.




The western side of the river will provide the best water up to the marina. The harbour consists of quays on both sides of the River, extending for about ½ mile downstream from the road bridge.




New Ross Marina lies south of the town on the east bank, ⅓ mile below O’Hanrahan Bridge. Berth as arranged with the marina manager. The visitor berths are normally found on the outer hammerhead, where notices on charges and instructions regarding access to the shower and toilet facilities are posted.



O’Hanrahan Bridge marks the effective head of navigation for vessels carrying any air draught, while low vessels may continue upriver from New Ross. The bridge has a clearance of approximately 3 metres HAT. The confluence of Barrow tributary the Nore is about two miles further along. The Nore provides a draught of 0.5 metres LAT to the village of Inistioge, about 7 miles further upriver to the northwest. The Barrow continues eastward and then snakes for about 9 miles to St Mullin’s, County Carlow, with a similar depth to the Nore. Both have pools where a vessel might easily lie afloat.

There is a lock at St Mullin’s from which it is possible to enter the inland waterways – a network of canals and rivers that will take a vessel as far as Dublin in the east, Limerick in the west or Enniskillen in the north. This is by the Barrow Navigation, Grand Canal, River Shannon, Erne Navigation and the relatively recently reopened Royal Canal. More information is available on Waterford Harbour’s Three Sisters upper reaches via IWAI's Ireland's inland waterways.

Why visit here?

New Ross derives its name from a shortened version of the Irish Ros Mhic Thriúin, the 'Wood of the Son of Treon'. The name underwent various changes as the town and its bridge developed during Norman times: Nova Villa Pontis became Ros Ponte, and in the 13th century it took on its modern name of New Ross. Indicating the town of the new bridge, this distinguished it from Old Ross, situated 5 miles to the east.

Standing on a steep hill on the eastern bank of the River Barrow, New Ross could never be described as an elegant town, but it is an excellent boating location that has featured prominently in the history of Ireland. The earliest settlement here dates back to the 4th century, when St Abban of Magheranoidhe (circa AD 570 to 620) founded a monastery in what is now Irishtown. St Abban was the son of Cormac, King of Leinster, and a nephew of Wexford’s apostle of St Ibar, who was a predecessor and contemporary of St Patrick. St Abban founded numerous churches in Wexford, with his principal monastery at Magheranoidhe, subsequently known as Abbanstown, today Adamstown.

The New Ross monastery flourished and went on to become a famous scholastic establishment. The original earthen-banked circular enclosure of the monastery was visible in the town’s Irishtown graveyard until recent developments covered it. Outside of the writings of St Abban, little is known of the town before Norman times, save that it was the territory of Dermot McMurrough and came to prominence when the Anglo-Normans conquered the region.

It was the Normans who would transform the town after their conquest of the region. Now called Old Ross, it was founded between 1192 and 1207 by the Earl of Pembroke and Seneschal of Leinster. It was the first Irish town they developed and they secured it with an earthen defensive structure called a motte. It was not until after the arrival of Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman William Marshal, however, that the town took off.

William Marshal’s is a good story. He rose from relative obscurity by dint of courage, luck, ambition, knightly prowess, and an odd mix of steadfastness and calculation to become one of the great magnates of England. Knighted in 1166, he spent his younger years as a knight errant and a successful tournament competitor. He served four kings in his time – Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, John, and Henry III. William joined the court of King Henry II in 1185 and served as a loyal captain through the many difficulties of Henry’s final years. In return for legendary loyalty and military accomplishments, Henry II promised Marshal the hand and estates of Isabel de Clare but died in July 1189 before his promise was carried out. The new King Richard I was not foolish enough to exclude a powerful military man, especially not whilst planning a Crusade. He confirmed the offer and so in August 1189, Marshal, at the age of 43, married the 17-year-old Isabel de Clare.

Isabel was the daughter of Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, the Norman leader of Ireland’s conquest, and Aoife, who was the daughter Diarmait MacMurrough – the deposed and then later reinstated Norman King of Leinster who invited the invasion. This was a particularly significant marriage as it gave Marshal the title of First Earl of Pembroke, providing him with large estates, including claims in England, Wales and Normandy, as well as Ireland. Therein the landless knight from a minor family was transformed into one of the richest men in the kingdom and ascended to hold great power and prestige at court.



Marshal planned to use New Ross to serve as a port for the lands of the Barrow, Nore and Suir valleys. Its development centred on the river Barrow crossing being at a key central point just 2 miles below the junction of the Barrow with the Nore. This crossing point was initially a loose pontoon erected to ferry people and goods, which quickly became an vital axis between the important towns of Wexford and Waterford. New Ross was granted a Royal Charter in 1207, and by 1210 William Marshal had built a fine wooden bridge across the river, regarded as one of the wonders of the time. Over the years, seven bridges have come to span the River Barrow to connect the port of New Ross with Rosbercon on the western shore. At various points through the centuries, the bridges collapsed due to neglect or were destroyed by armies, and were subsequently rebuilt or had a ferry service maintaining military and economic ties.


By the first half of the 13th century, New Ross had established itself as a successful port. With his connections at court, Marshal gained port concessions from King John in 1215, which were renewed after John’s death in 1227. These were later revoked by Henry III and Edward I to protect the port of Waterford. Even with these handicaps, the 13th-century customs returns indicate that New Ross was Ireland's busiest port, with French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian spoken almost as commonly on the streets of the town as English and Irish.



Restrictions were lifted in the 14th century by Edward II and Edward III, seeing the town prosper and expand, with an influx of merchants, pirates, tradesmen, religious orders and merchant bankers. In 1265 these denizens found it necessary to build town walls to protect themselves from local Gaelic chieftains (particularly the McMurrough-Kavanaghs) and feuding Norman families. The building of the wall, including towers and gates, was a community endeavour. Despite their efforts, however, the town was forced to pay for ‘protection’.


The defences were called into play during the 1640s Irish Confederate Wars, also known as The Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The town was defended by Kilkenny Confederacy troops under Thomas Preston, First Viscount Tara, who was appointed commander of the Leinster Army of the Irish Confederacy. The walls of New Ross resisted the March 1643 siege by James Butler, First Duke of Ormonde. The fighting to take the town was fierce, with the defenders inflicting substantial casualties. Forced to abandon the siege, Ormonde attempted to return to Dublin via the northwest Blackstairs Mountains, where he was intercepted by Preston, seeking to further his advantage. Despite being vastly outnumbered by Preston’s forces, Ormonde’s artillery helped destroy the Confederates at the Battle of Ballinvegga (later known as the First Battle of New Ross in the advent of the notorious 1798 Battle of New Ross). Following some confused fighting, largely due to the rough terrain, the cannons reeked carnage on Preston’s forces, killing as many as 500 at the cost of fewer than 20 of his own men. This caused a rout of his forces leaving Ormonde to observe the devastation inflicted by his artillery: “what Godlie men and horses lay there all torn, and their gutts lying on the ground, arms cast away and strewed over the fields”.




Not long after, in 1649, the walls of New Ross were not used to defend against the forces of Oliver Cromwell during his vicious conquest of Ireland. Fresh from capturing Wexford Town, having slaughtered many of its inhabitants, he discharged three cannon shots at the Aldgate entrance called Bewley Gate. New Ross wisely surrendered, and the garrison under Lucas Taffe was allowed to leave unharmed. Bewley Gate was a corruption of the Irish word Buaile, an area to which cows were brought to provide milk for the townspeople. It subsequently became known as the Three Bullet Gate. It entered the annals of history during the Wexford Rising of 1798 and the legendary Battle of New Ross.




The insurrection was fuelled partially by the ethos of the French Revolution and fought more than 150 years later. The recently victorious United Irishmen rebels were trying to take the town, hoping to break the rebellion out of County Wexford and across the river Barrow to County Kilkenny and the outlying province of Munster. At sunrise on 5 June, 10,000 poorly armed rebels massed outside New Ross. The leader, Bagenal Harvey, attempted to negotiate the surrender of the British garrison of 2,000 regular soldiers, militia and yeomanry, who had well-prepared defences both outside and inside the town. However, the rebel emissary was shot down by Crown outposts whilst bearing a flag of truce. This provoked a furious charge of an advance guard of 500 rebels who drove a herd of cattle through the 'Three Bullet Gate'. Another rebel column attacked the Priory Gate and a diversionary cavalry charge from the Market Gate was broken with massed pikes from the greater body of the rebel forces. Then the rebels broke through the Market Gate and charged down the steeply sloping streets.




Despite the strong resistance of the well-armed defending soldiers and horrific rebel casualties, largely by weight of numbers they managed to seize two-thirds of the town. Close to victory, but not close enough, the rebels, armed with homemade long-handled pikes, were eventually beaten back by the King’s trained troops and artillery. Following the arrival of reinforcements, the crown forces launched a series of counter-attacks, the well-armed soldiers successfully driving away the exhausted pike-wielding rebels to fully recapture the town.




It was the bloodiest encounter of the rising: by day’s end bodies lay piled up on the streets and around the gate, blown apart by grapeshot or run through with pikes. No effort was made to pursue the withdrawing rebels; rather, when the town was fully secured, an atrocious massacre of prisoners, trapped rebels and civilians of both sympathies alike, was the focus of the victorious troops. It would continue for days. One of the most notable acts of the was the torching of the casualty stations. Hundreds were burned alive and the screams of the injured could be heard all around the town. An entry in the Augustinian Friary’s church Mass Book for 5 June 1798 reads: “Hodie hostis rebellis repulsa est ab obsidione oppidi cum magna caede, puta 3000 [Today the rebel enemy was driven back from the assault of the town with great slaughter, estimated at 3,000]”. Casualties in the Battle of New Ross are estimated at 2,800 to 3,000 Rebels, with 200 Garrison soldiers killed. The vast majority of the casualties occurred in the aftermath rather than the actual storming of the town.

The 18th and 19th centuries would be prosperous times for New Ross, driven largely by the colonisation of North America. Local merchants sailed their own ships back and forth to the colonies, often carrying Irish migrants. Thousands of people left the quayside over the years to start new lives in Britain, America, Newfoundland, Canada and Australia. The most famous of these were Patrick Kennedy and Bridget Murphy, great-grandparents of US President John F Kennedy, who returned to visit his ancestral home in June 1963.




Today a replica of one of those ships, the Dunbrody, is berthed on the New Ross quay with a visitor centre alongside, just a short stroll from the marina. It offers an insight into life as a passenger during the late 19th century. The vessel is an accurate, full size, ocean-going recreation of the original timber-built ship, which played a leading part in the 19th-century emigration to the USA. Narrated tours bring alive the history and conditions endured during the turbulent famine period. It is also the centre of the national JFK Dunbrody Festival, held on the third weekend in July each year, which celebrates the famine ship and attracts crowds in excess of 25,000. The eternal Emigrant Flame, lit from President Kennedy’s US graveside and brought by the navy to New Ross, remembers the diaspora.




New Ross is now a thriving market and commercial town, its larger portion connected by O’Hanrahan Bridge to the smaller Rosbercon, on the west bank. O’Hanrahan Bridge is named after Michael O’Hanrahan, who was born in New Ross and was one of the freedom fighters executed in 1916. Although it is over 30km (17 miles) from the sea, the Port of New Ross remains a commercial operation capable of handling container and bulk cargoes, and is today Ireland’s only inland port. However, New Ross has many attractions apart from the excellent boating facilities and provisioning capabilities.




The New Ross ‘journey can be the reward’ for any of its visitors by boat. The River Barrow is considered one of Ireland's most scenic and picturesque inland waterways. At 192km (119 miles), it is the second-longest river in Ireland after the Shannon and is particularly beautiful. There are extensive dyke and drainage systems that both improve navigation and protect the adjacent agricultural lands from flooding. At times they provide an impression of elevation, making it feel as if the river is higher than the adjacent farmlands. Several ruins of lime-kilns and old tower houses will also be passed along the river, making it an interesting trek. Taking a vessel deep inland, through some of Ireland’s most scenic countryside, the trip up the Barrow is a joy of itself.




The nearby Kennedy Homestead, the birthplace of JFK’s great-grandfather is a must-visit. This park celebrates the story of five generations of the Kennedy dynasty and it is a place of great natural beauty and serenity. The Kennedy Homestead is about 6km from the marina, so transport will be required to get there. Likewise, the John F Kennedy Arboretum on Slieve Coillte, overlooking the homestead and the river Barrow about 12 km from the marina, should not be missed if visiting the area.




The Ros Tapestry is housed on the quay, a must-see national treasure. Sixteen years in the making, it is a series of tapestries depicting the Norman experience and the consequential development of New Ross as a port. St Mary’s Abbey, located in Church Lane and credited to William Marshal and his wife Isabella, is also a recommended visit. It dates from between 1207 and 1220. The ruins are reasonably well preserved and contain some very interesting medieval tombs and plaques.




From a boating perspective, save for the long trek to the berth, New Ross has everything a vessel needs. A perfectly protected marina with a full-service boatyard just downstream of the town, which can take care of all cruising vessel needs. There is excellent provisioning via a choice of supermarkets a short walk from the pontoon, and great bus connections nationwide.

What facilities are available?

The marina provides electrical shore power, mains water, rubbish disposal and recycling facilities, plus toilets and shower facilities just outside the secure area in a nearby public park. Diesel and petrol can be obtained in jerry cans by arrangement with the marina manager, or from the 24-hour filling station opposite the marina gate. This service station also supplies Gas and has a small grocery and newsagent.

Alongside the marina is a major lift-out facility catering for vessels up to 50 tonnes. The facility provides hard-standing on concrete; being upriver it is a well-sheltered location to winter a vessel ashore. A slipway with tidal access is located at the New Ross Boat Club.

The small town has a population of about 7,000 and services the local rural area. As such it has banks, post offices and launderettes, with a choice of two major supermarkets within 300 metres of the marina, as well as several bars and restaurants. Beside the Dunbrody is a tourist information centre that will help plan a visit.

Access is good as the bridge that crosses the River Barrow above the marina is the important N25 road linking Cork, Waterford City 18 km (11 miles) away and Rosslare Harbour 40 km (25 miles) away. The nearest airport is Waterford Airport, about 27 km (17 miles) from New Ross. There are express bus services to Dublin, Waterford and a Rosslare - Cork - Killarney and Tralee main route. Other freelance bus services operate from the quay adjacent to the bridge. A choice of car hire companies operate from here, plus taxi services.

Any security concerns?

New Ross Three Sisters Marina is a secured facility.

With thanks to:

John Diamond and Aidan Bates the New Ross Three Sisters Marina manager. Photographs Michael Harpur, Suckingdiesel, Cletjan and Keith James.