Fishguard

The twin towns of Fishguard and Goodwick are located on the north Pembrokeshire coast and actually comprise three communities grouped round Fishguard Bay.

The smallest is Lower Town (y Cwm in Welsh) which sits at the mouth of the river Gwaun and so properly deserves the name of Abergwaun. It is a very handsome example of a Welsh fishing village with its small harbour crowded with boats.

Across the bay is Goodwick which was developed in the late Victorian era as a major ferry port to Ireland. Stena Line maintains a regular service, for passengers and freight, and crossing times can be as low as 2 hours.

Sitting up on the cliffs between these two is Fishguard proper, which largely earns its living as a market town. It provides pleasant environment in which to shop at the many small businesses, a good number of which are family owned.

The name "Fishguard" is usually said to derive from the Norse for "fish yard". Given its position up on the cliffs this must seem unlikely. Another possibility is a corruption of the proto-Welsh "lhys ar y alht", meaning "court on the cliff". One can imagine an ancient Celtic lord, with his back protected by the sea, ruling from behind a stout palisade.

The present-day folk of Fishguard are friendly and welcoming and many of them speak a vigorous local dialect of Welsh, quite distinct from the "book-Welsh" of the cities.

Amongst other events Fishguard hosts an international Music Festival, a Folk Festival, and maintains strong cultural links with Ireland.

For more detail you may like to look at fishguardonline and the BBC fishguard site.

Please see the Photo Collections for views of the town.