Thousands of people left the Quayside of New Ross over the years to start new lives in Britain, America, Newfoundland, Canada and Australia.
The most famous emigrants were Patrick Kennedy and Bridget Murphy, great-grandparents of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States. President Kennedy returned to visit his ancestral home in June 1963.
Dunganstown, 6 km (4 mi) south of New Ross is the ancestral home of the Kennedy family which also included Joe Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith and Eunice Shriver.
Other emigrants included the grandparents of Eugene Gladstone O’Neill, the American playwright and winner of the 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature.Before emigrating, they lived in Rosbercon, just across the river Barrow from New Ross.
Some other famous Rossonians & Wexfordmen are listed below;
Michael O’Hanrahan (1877 – 1916) freedom fighter executed in 1916, was born in New Ross, Co Wexford. The Bridge in New Rosswhich spans the River Barrow is named after him.
Martin Jerome Keogh (1852–1926), New York State Supreme Court Justice, was born in New Ross, Co wexford.
Maverick Sabre contemporary singer / musician grew up in New Ross, Co Wexford.
James Annesley (1715 – 1760), was an Irishman with a claim to the title Earl of Anglesey. He is perhaps best known today for partially inspiring the novel Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. He was born in Dunmain, New Ross, Co Wexford.
Father James Cullen (1841 – 1921) founder of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, was born in New Ross, Co Wexford.
John Edward Redmond (1856 – 1918) Nationalist leader and politician and MP for New Ross. He was born in County Wexford.
