Bruen of Wexford and Carlow

It was reputed that Henry Bruen of Oak Park Carlow and of Coolbawn, Co. Wexford was not a handsome man. Apparently he was responsible for completing the magnificent entrance to Oak Park and the story goes that when it was finished he had a plaque erected on which there was an inscription as follows:

‘What can’t men and money do?’

According to local lore, a Carlow wit passing by, wrote on the plaque in reply:

All the men and money of Adam’s race, Couldn’t put a decent nose on ould Bruen’s face.’

Be that as it may, the Bruens were a distinguished and notable family in both Wexford and Carlow for many decades.

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Coolbawn