Fishguard - Definition and Overview

Cwm Harbour, Fishguard

Fishguard (Welsh: Abergwaun) is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales. From Fishguard harbour (confusingly in Goodwick) a regular ferry leaves for Rosslare, Ireland. Fishguard is the terminus of the A40 London to Fishguard trunk road.

Fishguard's ancient Royal Oak pub saw the surrender signed following the last attempt to invade mainland Britain, in 1797, when a French-inspired force of 1400 troops in four warships landed on 22 February at Carregwastad Head, hoping to trigger an uprising. The invasion, executed by units very far from the top drawer of the French forces, did not go at all well and was concluded with little harm done on either side - a few fatalities and some looting. The surrender took place on 25 February. The local heroine of the invasion was Jemima Nicholas, who with her pitchfork single-handedly rounded up 12 invaders. The whole story is told by the Fishguard Tapestry, which was created for the 200th anniversary as a deliberate echo of the Bayeux Tapestry, and is on display in a hall near the town centre.

The town Loctudy (Breton: Loktudi) in Brittany, France has been twinned with Fishguard since 1995.

Fishguard hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1936 and 1986.

External links

• French Farce at Fishguard (http://europeanhistory.about.com/library/prm/blfrenchfarceprm1.htm), thorough account from europeanhistory.com
• A shorter account from historic-uk.com (http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Wales-History/Fishguard.htm)