ROSS, New, a parliamentary and municipal borough of Ireland, in the county of Wexford, on the left bank of the Barrow, here crossed by a wooden bridge leading to the
suburb Rosbercon, 13 miles N.N.E. of Waterford. It consists chiefly of a long street extending along the summit of the high river-bank, with shorter ones rising steeply to it on either side; but there is a more modern portion built along the water's edge. The town was formerly inclosed by walls, but these were demolished by Cromwell in 1649. The parish church is a neat building on the site of an ancient abbey, of which there are still some remains. Rosbercon has also a parish church, this, too, partially consisting of an older building; and there are places of worship for Roman Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Independents, and Quakers. Among the other buildings of the town are a market-house, court-house, bridewell, cavalry barracks, several hospitals, workhouse, and dispensary; and in addition to these, New Ross has a grammar school, news-room, and circulating library. The principal manufactures of the town are tanning and brewing; and the trade is very considerable,—grain, flour, wool, butter, &c., being exported. There are extensive quays, where vessels of 200 tons can lie at all tides, and those as large as 800 at spring-tides. The river is navigable for barges as far up as Athy, and from thence there is communication by canal with Dublin. The number of ships registered at the port 31st December 1857 was 14 sailing-vessels, tonnage 4219. In the year ending on that day there entered the harbour 297 sailing-vessels, tonnage 25,151; and there cleared 58, tonnage 5659; while the number of steam-vessels that entered and cleared was 324 each, tonnage 27,216. A great number of the inhabitants are employed in salmon-fishery on the river, both above and below the town. Markets are held here twice a week, and fairs monthly. During the rebellion in 1798 New Ross was attacked by the insurgents, but after ten hours' fighting, they were repulsed with great loss. The borough formerly sent two members to the Irish Parliament, and now one to that of the United Kingdom. Pop. (1851) 7941.