Dubliners now comprise 60% of buyers in the county, according to figures for the period ending June of this year, and it seems that those purchasers have deep pockets when it comes to investing in a second home or holiday home in the county . . . spending anything from around 270,000 upwards.

The big attraction is, undoubtedly, the weather, and that moniker "the sunny southeast" has entered the nation's psyche. Wexford is the sunniest place in Ireland, says Phil Keeling, marketing executive with County Wexford Tourism.

'Live, work and visit' is the county's catchprase, Keeling said, "and the growing numbers of people deciding to set up here permanently are not just the holiday home buyers. There is a real feelgood factor to the county."

According to Emer Lovett, chief executive of Wexford Chamber of Commerce, the ease of access to Dublin with the M50, plus the imminent completion of the Gorey Bypass (2008) . . . expected to take an hour off journey times . . . has added to the county's attraction.

"When it comes to deciding where to buy, many families prefer to be near the beach, " says Lovett. "Rivertown and Courtown are hugely popular. Rosslare is another 50 miles south and it has developed at a slower pace. As a consequence, it is perceived as being a bit more exclusive.

For holiday home buyers from the UK, Kilmore Quay is popular with English and Welsh."

The population of the county is now around 116,000, and this figure doubles during the summer months with an influx of tourists. Among the more wellknown people who have holiday homes in the county, says Lovett, are writers John Banville and Colm Toibin, and singers Chris de Burgh, Leo Sayer and Eleanor McEvoy.

Famous sons of Wexford include any number of Irish rebels, but the county also gave birth to a revolutionary of a different sort: internationally renowned architect and designer Eileen Gray. One of the very few women at the forefront of the Modernism movement of the early to mid-20th century, Gray was born near Enniscorthy in 1878.

Wexford's noted beaches attracted director Steven Spielberg, who chose Ballinesker strand, near Curracloe, for the filming of the opening sequences of Saving Private Ryan during the midl990s.

Those interested in buying a second home, or holiday home, won't necessarily need the budget of a big movie, but they won't get anything in Wexford town these days for under 200,000, according to Jenny McDermott of Wexford-based agents Kehoe & Associates, "There are still the traditional cottages by the sea, but younger families will look for locations where there are also good amenities and activities locally for children, " she says.

Eighty five per cent of buyers purchase homes solely for their own use, rather than buy-to-let, says John Radford of Sherry FitzGerald New Ross.

The agency has a good variety of properties on their books, from a two-bed, detached house at Clongeen, just 10 minutes from the beach for 190,000, to Baronsfield at Ramsgrange, a new development of just nine homes for 309,000.

Michael O'Leary of Sherry FitzGerald O'Leary in Enniscorthy says buyers spend anything from 250,000 upwards on a second home in the county.

A rough average of rents, for anyone interested in the buy-to-let market, is 800 per month.

Major investment in Co Wexford in recent years has prompted the holiday home buyer to consider a permanent move as well, according to Emer Lovett, citing the 30m Monart Destination Spa, 15 miles from Wexford town.

Whites of Wexford, a 50m hotel, opened in June of this year has Ireland's first cryotherapy unit for elite athletes.

There has also been significant investment in retail; Shaws and Heatons spent 10m each, while Boots and Superdrug have just moved in. A new Tesco, set to open next spring, will be the second largest in Ireland. A seven-storey hotel has also been given the go ahead on Wexford quay.

GOREY Distance from Dublin: 54 miles Key attractions: Courtown Harbour, Kilmuckridge, Pirates Cove, Fr Murphy Centre Boolavogue, and an endless number of beaches Shopping and eating: Marfield House, Poole's Restaurant Entertainment: Woodland and coastal walks, horse riding, golf Average price of a holiday home: Yo u can buy a three-bed semi in the town for 300,000. Expect to pay up to 400,000 in the surrounding area.

Courtown Harbour, just three miles outside Gorey, has long attracted Dublin holiday makers, and holiday homes between here and Kilmuckridge have always seen strong demand. Dubliners account for over 50% of the buyers of holiday homes in the area.

North Gorey has practically become a suburb of the capital, due to its popularity . . . not only with the holiday home market, but also with first-time buyers priced out of the exorbitant Dublin market.

The imminent completion of the Gorey bypass has had a huge effect in that regard, opening the possibility of an hour's commute, according to Pauline O'Sullivan of DNG O'Sullivan.

"Prices have gone up even before the completion of the new road, and there are not enough properties in the town to meet the demand, " she says.

"Tara Hill and Ballymoney, on the coast, are very popular with the holiday home-seeker, as are small villages such as Cranford."

Niall Slattery of Warren Estates says there can be a huge differential in property prices around the coastline near Gorey. "Around Ballymoney, it's the affluent home owners of south Dublin who invest in a holiday home, and who will pay 400,000 for even a timber chalet in a good development.

"Closer to Courtown, the price changes and, in some developments, a holiday home can go for under the 300,000 mark."

WEXFORD TOWN Distance from Dublin: 85 miles Key attractions: Westgate Heritage Centre, Curracloe Beach, Castleridge Village, Blackwater Village and beach, Johnstown Castle and Gardens, Irish Agricultural Museum Shopping and eating: La Riva, La Dolce Vita, Wexford Farmers' Market, Wexford Strawberry Fair Entertainment:

Wexford Opera Festival, Wexford Arts Centre, walking tours, beaches, horseriding, golf Average price of a holiday home: Three bed semi-detached 270,000 Jenny McDermott of Wexford townbased agents Kehoe & Associates says that buyers will get nothing for under 200,000. "Wexford town itself has so much to offer for families and young people who maybe want good shopping and a social life along with reasonable proximity to the beach, " she says.

The coast just up from the town, particularly around Curracloe, is one of the most popular holiday home destinations int he county. A three-bed, four- bath detached bungalow near the resort is currently on the market through ReMax & Associates for 485,000.

Five miles from Wexford town, close to the N25, is a four-bed detached bungalow for 365,000, currently listed on the Daft. ie property website.

In town itself, there are apartments with harbour views. At Custom House Quay, a new development offers twobeds from 200,000. A three-bed at Paul Quay is priced at 285,000 through Property Partners John Corish.

Sherry Fitzgerald O'Leary had a successful campaign with Beechfield Manor, a development typical for holiday home use and priced in the region of 330,000, at Screen, five minutes inland from Curracloe.

"The added advantage of this type of property is that it is also of interest to owner-occupiers, " says agent Michael O'Leary.

ROSSLARE AND THE SOUTH COAST Distance from Dublin: 108 miles Key attractions: Kellys Resort Hotel & Spa, Yola Farmstead Folk Park, Lady's Island, Carnsore Point, Kilmore Quay, Hook Lighthouse, Tintern Abbey, Dunbrody Famine ship, John F Kennedy Arboretum, Kennedy Homestead Shopping and eating: Aldridge Lodge, Dunbrody Abbey Cookery Centre, Islander Seafood Restaurant, Sqigl Restaurant, Country Crafts Entertainment: Open Ladies Golf Competition, Seafood Festival, angling, windsurfing, island visits, horse riding Average price of a holiday home: A two-bed apartment without sea views averages from 220,000; a three bed detached house with sea views, from 390,000 upwards If you take in a broad sweep from Rosslare, along the coast to Kilmore Quay to the Hook peninsula and on to Duncannon and Arthurstown, there are some of the nicest, old-style resorts and rural villages to be found in the county.

Rosslare is often referred to as Wexford's original holiday resort, with a 6km stretch of safe, sandy beach.

John Radford of Sherry FitzGerald New Ross sells holiday homes extending to some of the most popular resorts on the southern Wexford coastline. "Places such as Duncannon, Fethard-on-Sea, Cullenstown and towards Hook Head are hugely popular.

"A four-bed new home at Duncannon that's ready to walk into and literally across the road from a Blue Flag beach costs from 315,000.

"New homes of 1,600sq ft at Ramsgrange, a development of nine homes at Baronsfield, with every amenity nearby and three minutes from the beach, are priced from 309,000.

"But people will pay 500,000 for a second or holiday home, particularly for somewhere near the coast. We currently have a two-bed detached house, 10 minutes from the beach for 190,000."

Kehoe and Associates, cites a new development within five miles of the safe sandy beaches of Rosslare Strand as excellent value for the holiday or second home market.

"A three-bed detached house at Clearwater Cove is priced from 350,000.

These are large homes, from 1,389 sq ft to 1,711sq ft and fitted out to a very high specification."