A Weekend in Wexford!

My sister and I escaped to the sunny South East for a mini getaway two weeks ago and we had the nicest time. 48 hours away from the hustle and bustle of city life is always a good idea and Wexford seemed liked the perfect place. Here’s what we got up in the Ancient East…

ACCOMMODATIONh

We stayed in the Brandon House Hotel for two nights. It is a four star hotel located in the heart of New Ross. A great spot as we were close to pretty much everything which was so handy. We were treated to a bottle of bubbly and some sweet treats on arrival (a lovely way to end a fun first day in Wexford). Our room was modern and spacious. It had a flat screen TV, bathrobes and slippers as well as bottled water and wine on arrival. The staff were lovely and they really went out of their way to accommodate us. There was a lot of choice for breakfast each morning and the leisure facilities were great too. We will definitely be back to try a few treatments at the spa next time. A really enjoyable stay overall.

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WINING & DINING

Le Baginbun – The nicest little lunch spot in Fethard. Le Baginbun is the sister property of Baginbun Lodge which is only across the road. They had lots of choice on their lunch menu so we were spoilt for choice. We shared a falafel starter (I have never had nicer falafels) and I have a chicken salad for my main. Really tasty dishes and generous portions too. A cosy atmosphere and the staff were really friendly too. Click here to see their menu.

The Gallery Restaurant – this restaurant is part of the hotel we were staying in so it was a perfect spot for our first night as we checked in late that evening. The menu had a really good choice of both traditional and modern cuisine so we were spoilt for choice. I ordered a steak dinner and we shared a chocolate dessert. The food was cooked to perfection, the atmosphere was cosy and the staff were really friendly. A really nice dining room and the bar had a good selection of drinks too. The staff very kindly whipped us up two margaritas on the spot as they weren’t on the menu. We also got chatting to a few of the bar staff. Such lovely people. Click here for more on their menu selection.

Creacon Wellness Retreat – the perfect destination for retreat, relaxation and rejuvenation. We popped in for some R&R on our first day and we had the nicest lunch. The Master Chef, Gaetano Pernagallo designs meals that promote health and nutrition. They only use quality ingredients that are chosen for their seasonal & environmental appropriateness – many of which are grown in their own gardens. I ordered a chicken burger with sweet potato fries and a salad – they really hit the spot. The staff were also lovely. Click here for more on their menu.

Il Primo Italian Restaurant – We dined in Il Primo on our last night. Italian food is a favourite of mine and the food did not disappoint. I had a really nice smoked salmon pasta dish with a glass of red. It was a beautiful meal overall and the restaurant was only a 5 minute drive from our hotel which was handy. If you’re staying in New Ross this place is worth checking out. Click here for more.

THINGS TO DO & SEE

Dunbrody Famine Ship

Our first stop on the Saturday was the Dunbrody Famine Ship. This is one of the premier tourist attractions in the South East of Ireland so we had to pop in for a tour.

Centred on an authentic reproduction of an 1840’s emigrant vessel, it provides a world-class interpretation of the famine emigrant experience. Incorporating guided tour, costumed performers and themed exhibitions, ‘The Dunbrody’ provides a unique insight into the bravery and fortitude with which Irish people faced up to a desperate situation.

Our tour guide was really friendly, chatty and informative, we got to see the ins and outs of the ship and the performers topped it all off. A really enjoyable tour overall. The tickets are reasonably priced too. Click here for more information on tours and ticket prices.

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Hook Lighthouse

Located at the tip of the Hook peninsula, this is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world. We popped in for a guided tour of the lighthouse on the Sunday morning as we were in the area.

Our tour was just under an hour long and our tour guide Gillian was full of facts and figures so we learnt a lot. We were given a tour of even level of the lighthouse and we finished up at the top with the most beautfil view of Wexford and the cliff tops. An absolute must if you’re in the area. Click here for more information.

Sea Cave Kayaking

The Irish Experience offers an amazing and unique Sea Cave Kayaking Experience along the beautiful South East coastline of Ireland, taking in the very best Atlantic Ocean location of Ireland’s Ancient East. Sea Cave Kayaking had been on my to-do list for a good while so I couldn’t wait to get going. It really was a unique and exhilarating way to explore this magical coastline.

The sea cave kayaking experience was 3 hours long and this included 2.5 hours of paddle time in total. The sea caves and arches really were something else. We also stopped off at a hidden beach to re-energise. Our guide Graham taught us lots about the area, the wildlife and the history which was great. We were also treated to a hot chocolate and a snack along the way. The weather was perfect so the views were even more incredible than expected. Costa Del Wexford to say the least. Click here for more information.

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Energy Therapy

I decided to give energy therapy a go as I had never tried it before. I had my first Rising Star treatment at Creacon Wellness Retreat after lunch on the Saturday and I really enjoyed it. It was a 40 minute session in total and I found it really relaxing overall.

Scientists have proven that everything is energy. With humans and animals, energy fields operate inside our bodies (chakra system) and outside our bodies (auric system). When our energetic vibration decreases, dis-ease and imbalance can occur on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.

The Rising Star treatment works by directing energy through your chakra system, working on the five elements; fire, water, air, earth and ether, so your entire being can start to balance and heal. A single treatment starts to raise the vibration of the human energy field, to hold more life force energy, so it can rebalance the body. A really enjoyable experience. I will definitely be back. Click here for more information.

County Wexford really does have so much to offer. There are so many things to do and places to see. A huge thanks to Brandon House Hotel, The Irish Experience, Hook Lighthouse, Dunbrody Famine Ship, Creacon Wellness Retreat, Le Baginbun and Il Primo for having us. Such an enjoyable weekend in the sun south east.

Any questions? You can catch me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! <3 (Press Trip*)

Thanks for reading!

Until next time…