I knew this place since the very first time I arrived in Ireland many years ago. And I was always fascinated by the idea to dine in a restaurant that actually is situated on the grounds of a graveyard.
The Spire Restaurant is a hidden place in Duleek. I don’t believe that really many people know about this place and particularly that there is also a restaurant.
I found the place when I started the first year to drive around and look for ancient places, to learn about the rich Irish history, to see as much possible and to touch these old stones. There are endless abbeys, churches, manors, castles, watch-towers, round-towers and much more just in the middle of fields, oftentimes cows grazing around.
When I came first to Duleek it was on the way to Ashbourne. Duleek is a little town in County Meath. I saw the huge abbey tower first and just sparked the car on the road and walked to it. And it came out to be one of the most interesting places.
But the really intriguing for me was the restaurant. A dining place in a church surrounded by the graveyard? Well… I think everyone would ask oneself how the food could be….
For all these years the times I had a look for the restaurant I happened when it was closed. So my friend who I brought there just for showing her the place she took the telephone number and called. We had a reservation on a Sunday for lunch.
The entrance is already cozy and all but church-like. The church itself is tiny but a perfect place for a restaurant with atmosphere. Though we had a table just in the middle of the room and many people came for Sunday lunch it was calm, no hectic or too loud.
A young couple of the place is running the restaurant now. The woman told us, years before it was a very expensive place and was closed as it didn’t work. The new owners are now trying to give a good service and different choices of meals for a reasonable prizing.
We chose a starter and a main course. I had a very nice veggie soup and my friend chicken wings in sweet sour. The main course was a simple meat dish with potatoes and veggies. No dessert as we wanted to go in another place for coffee and cake.
Between starter and main course I had a short look upstairs. A small balcony but perfect for a celebration or group. A tiny little, round stone room would be perfect for an intimate dinner for two or a small group of four. In fact there was some family reunion.
The Spire Restaurant offers a various choice of dishes. For me coming from Italy the food is typical Irish, good but very different as I am used to. The service is excellent and the prizes are OK. I would recommend this place first of all for its originality being in a church but also for the food if you want a proper Irish meal. For sure I will come back in another occasion as I liked it.
The Spire, Duleek, County Meath/Ireland
For further information:
The Spire Restaurant website
About Duleek
