A 19th-century thatched cottage above Cullenstown Strand, its walls, sheds and garden wall encrusted with more than 50,000 seashells arranged into murals by one man over 30 years.
Kevin L. Ffrench spent over 30 years covering the walls, sheds and enclosing garden wall with shells, using scallop shells from Kilmore Quay fishermen and razor shells from Rosslare. Look for outlined birds, a pirate ship and a scene of the Tuskar Rock lighthouse.
The cottage sits on a 6 m high embankment directly across from Cullenstown Strand. The interior is a private home and is not open, but the exterior is free to look at and photographs well from the roadside.
A Green Coast Award beach of fine sand backed by grassy dunes, with a gently shelving shore that suits older children. There are no lifeguards, so swim on calm summer days only; fishing off the strand is good.
The strand walks well in any season, looking out to the Saltee Islands and Keeragh Island and along toward the Ballyteige Burrow dunes. Early morning gives the softest light and emptiest sand for photographers.
A short walk away stands the village's old Gaelic handball alley, listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. A plainer piece of local heritage beside the shells.
Storm Ophelia in 2017 destroyed large sections of the thatched roof and some shellwork, including a dolphin mural. A donation box sits at the cottage, and the family runs a GoFundMe campaign, posting updates as @shellcottagewexford on Facebook and Instagram.
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