Wexford Revisited - McMenamin’s Townhouse
Like the trattoria “da Mario” in Genoa, there are some places that leave a lasting
impression in the memory of good times, good value and an inherent sense of well-being.
If da Mario is the best value restaurant in the world, then McMenamin’s must be the
best value breakfast in the world.
We have been staying at this B & B each year for over 10 years now, as part of our
annual trip to the Wexford Opera Festival in the Republic of Ireland. An older write
up exists on our Bacchus and Comus website (www.bacchusandcomus.com), but because
of a change in Seamus and Kay McMenamin’s circumstances an update is considered entirely
necessary.
Until three years ago, Seamus and Kay’s end-of-terrace B & B opposite the Wexford
railway station and overlooking the estuary, was their home and income, but a disasterous
flood from the river bursting its banks during the Opera Festival some three years
ago, left them scrambling around trying to re-house their guests and a completely
ruined house and contents. The insurance paid - eventually - but the McMenamins decided
to play safer and buy another property a couple of streets up the hill at the same
time downsizing their operation by cutting their letting bedrooms from eight to four,
but upgrading the rooms and making them a little more luxurious. This has caused
a bit of havoc for the McMenamins since a number of regular guests (especially during
the Opera Festival) have had to be disappointed. We were one of the lucky ones and
the only way to ensure a room for the following year’s festival is to book it the
day you arrive. (Booking it the day you leave may be too late!) Things are much easier
for the rest of the year and this is certainly a place that is not to be missed.
What is the USP of this remarkable place? Well, quite simply it’s the fantastic breakfasts
produced by Kay and served with aplomb by Seamus. Apart from the usual array of cereals,
(plus the whiskey flavoured porridge) there is a dazzling choice of home-produced
cooked fruits - apricots, prunes, rhubarb, pears, blueberries and bananas, flavoured
with sugar and spices, all available to be topped up with Kay’s home made yoghurt.
A speciality are the home made flapjacks, which you can’t order - you just get a
couple each! Seamus also comes along with a basket full of home-made breads to boot
and there are, of course, home-made jams to put on them. The items available as a
cooked breakfast are truly remarkable - get a load of this!
McMenamin's Traditional Breakfast -
Cereal and Fruit Buffet
.
On Request - Whiskey flavoured Porridge
.
Cooked Breakfasts -
.
Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon
.
Fresh Fish of the Day
.
Mushroom Omelette
.
Steamed Kippers
.
Baked Lamb Kidneys in Sherry Sauce
.
Grilled Bacon, Sausage, Black & White Pudding
Tomato, Mushroom, Potato Bread
.
Eggs, any Style
Naturally Smoked Haddock Omelette
Tea, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
.
Selection of Homemade Breads
Homemade Preserves and Whiskey Marmalade
The bedrooms
Well, it’s a B & B, not the Hilton, so each room is different, but they are large,
the beds are comfortable, there is terrestrial telly, en-suite showers and the usual
tea and coffee making facilities. And, hot off the press, a FREE wi-fi setup! What
more could you ask?
Not the cheapest B & B you can find at 60 euros per person per night - but those
breakfasts make it all worth while. After all, life is too short to go around eating
only factory bread, industrial preserves, packet bacon and portion controlled everything!
Ratings...
Accommodation 33
Breakfast 15
Service 10
Ambience 10
Value for money 12
Total 80
McMenamin's Town House, 3 Auburn Terrace,
Redmond Road, Wexford, Co. Wexford.
Phone: 053 46442
Open all year except Christmas.
Rooms: 4 en suite.
Prices: Moderate
Credit Cards: Mastercard, Visa.
