20/05/2026
Some places mean a bit more when you know the story behind them......Killiane Castle Country House and Farm is one of those places. Paul and Patrycja Mernagh are running it now, but the family story goes way back. Paul’s grandfather bought Killiane in 1920, and then in 1972 his parents, Kathleen and Jack, started taking guests while still running the dairy farm. Jack looked after the farm. Kathleen looked after the guesthouse. And between the two of them, they built the place into something extremely well regarded....Kathleen raised five boys there while running the accommodation (which says enough on its own) Over the years she brought Killiane Castle to five-star standard with the AA and Fáilte Ireland..... with a special mention for two things....The breakfast and the little details, that feeling that you were being looked after by someone who cared about the place and cared about the people coming through the door. And plenty of people did notice.....Killiane went on to win Guest Accommodation of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards in 2008, Georgina Campbell Farmhouse of the Year in 2010 and 2017, and Hideaway of the Year in 2022.
Paul and Patrycja came into the business in 2014, and you can see how much they care about continuing what Kathleen and Jack started. Paul had built up years of experience before coming home, from Shannon College of Hotel Management to the Four Seasons, The Shelbourne, Whites Hotel and Dunbrody Country House. Patrycja trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School, and if you have ever heard anyone talk about breakfast at Killiane, you will know she has very much put her own stamp on it. Fresh breads, scones, granola, biscuits, fruit, savoury dishes and local produce are all part of the morning there now.
And that is what makes Killiane strive to achieve....It is not just a nice house (and castle) with a bit of history attached. Although it has that too, to be fair. The house dates back to the late 1700s and is attached to a Norman Towerhouse from the 1470s. There are guest rooms, self-catering apartments in the courtyard, and the 230-acre farm is still being worked by Paul’s brothers. When you arrive, it is usually Paul or Patrycja meeting you. In the morning, one of them is usually cooking and the other is serving. That is a rare enough thing now, and it is probably why people remember Killiane so fondly after they leave. There is an honesty bar, books about Wexford, a fire, the grounds to walk around, and that lovely feeling of being a little bit away from the noise without being far from anything.
A family business that started with guests arriving in 1972 and is still welcoming people all these years later. And that deserves huge credit.
So if you know Paul or Patrycja, if you remember Kathleen, if you have stayed in Killiane, or if you just love seeing a Wexford family business still being carried on like this.......let us know in the comments 👋🏻
An outstanding Wexford offering!
