Go Overnight

DESPITE the presence of a bright green ceiling and purple chandelier in the bar, and a view across the wide expanse of the River Slaney, which takes in a life-sized fibreglass giraffe on the opposite bank, the Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford has the comforting and all-too-rare sense that it’s not pretending to be anything it isn’t.

It’s a friendly well-run hotel, with good staff, a nice atmosphere, lovely views and it all feels very genuine. This shouldn’t be so unusual, but with the landscape of hotels in Ireland increasingly populated by (somewhat tarnished) glamorous fakes, it’s rather nice to be somewhere “real”.

The hotel is on the N11, and while traffic noise doesn’t filter down to disturb the tranquillity, it’s worth noting the 60kmph speed limit that suddenly appears as the road dips to cross the river. I know of two people who recently acquired points and fines by not spotting the sign.

But that’s really the only hazard of a visit to the Ferrycarrig, and it’s one that is easy enough to slow down and avoid. In fact, slowing down is the name of the game at the hotel, for even though I arrived with great intentions of pulling on my swimsuit, and jumping into the hotel’s swimming pool, a cup of tea on the sunny river side terrace turned into a glass of wine, which turned into two – then menus arrived, and before we knew it we had whiled away a very pleasant afternoon.

The hotel is child-friendly, but the children we encountered were friendly themselves, and there is a section of the bar that’s adults only, so you never feel as if you’re having a holiday in a crèche.

We didn’t spot the giraffe immediately. I had just finished my burger and chips (the bar menu is all about highly satisfying pub food), when I looked up and said to my brother do you see that giraffe over there”. “Which giraffe?” he asked, as if there might be many, and that giraffe-spotting was a natural occupation in the sunny southeast. We decided to walk around and take a closer look. Along the way, a pretty riverbank path leads to the ruins of Ferrycarrig Castle, sitting sentinel-like on one side of the river, echoed by a majestic round tower on the other. We sat on a rock, warmed by the sun and saw from our vantage point that the giraffe also had an elephant for company.

We found out later that the model wildlife is a pet project of Declan Power of Ferrycarrig Autobody Repairs, who makes the animals out of scrap metal, before covering them with fibreglass. The elephant had been vandalised, which was rotten of whoever did it, as they are great and quirky fun pieces. Back at the hotel, my room, which had a gorgeous view, had been redone as slightly stylish (but not off-puttingly so), with plenty of reds and browns. You can pay more for a balcony room, but as I hadn’t, I was a little envious of people sitting out sunning themselves on theirs. There was a free bottle of mineral water to welcome me, and a ferociously strong cold water tap that liberally soaked me and most of the bathroom when I went to wash my hands.

The bed wasn’t enormous, and was on the firm side, but it turned out to be very comfortable, and there were both soft and firm pillows to choose between. Despite the presence in the bathroom of the type of toiletries you wouldn’t be tempted to steal, it doesn’t feel as if Ferrycarrig is cutting corners (like so many other places these days). An excellent espresso and very good home-made breakfast muffin the next morning added to my sense that this is a nice hotel where they take pride in doing things well. It’s not as glamorous as its sister hotel, Monart, but for an overnight visit, it suited me fine.

WhereFerrycarrig Hotel, Wexford, 053-9120999, ferrycarrighotel.ie.

WhatFour-star hotel on the banks of the River Slaney

Rooms102 rooms including four suites.

Best ratescurrently from €139 pps B&B. Special offers include family bedroom (with bunk beds to sleep three kids) and €169 pps B&B. Restaurant and Bar Reed Restaurant, Dry Dock Bar, with courtyard grill

Child friendlinesschildren welcome, children's play area in gardens, games room, kids' club during school holidays, crèche.

AccessibilityOne fully-accessible room.

AmenitiesLeisure centre, with pool, gym and beauty treatment rooms. Hairdresser. Conference facilities, Free wired internet in bedrooms, Wifi in public areas. Parking.

• Go Overnights are reviewed anonymously and paid for by The Irish Times