Horetown House - Your Home away from Home

Horetown House is a Palladian building which has been sympathetically restored by it’s present owners, Tom & Bernie White, who bought the house in 2004. Tom and Bernie live locally and Tom’s sister Kate has worked closely with them and is responsible for the interior design of Horetown House and is now the wedding coordinator. Tom, Bernie and Kate are on site for all weddings celebrated at Horetown House and look after every detail, from your first enquiry to the check out of your very last guest. Horetown House is not just a hotel, it’s a family business which strives to take care of every detail of your wedding, allowing you to focus on enjoying your big day.

Horetown is a traditional house of it’s time, built in 1692, boasting a grand reception hall, reception rooms on the ground floor, 10 luxurious bedrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors and a pub in the original wine cellar. The house has been restored for comfortable living and longs to be full of people having a wonderful time.

A Brief History of the House

The townsland of Horetown dates back to the time of the Norman Landings in 1169 when brothers Philip and William Hore, who came from Devonshire, were granted the lands of Horetown, directly after the conquest. Shortly after this, the Furlongs arrived with Strongbow and established a family castle in Pole on the River Slaney.

In 1334 a marriage between the Hore & Furlong Families saw the exchange of properties.

The Furlongs remained in Horetown until the Cromwellian confiscation when they were transplanted to Connaught. At the time of Cromwelliam confiscation, William Goff who was related by marriage to Oliver Cromwell was granted the lands of Horetown. After the fall of Cromwell, William Goff escaped to America leaving his wife and son Richard Goff in Ireland.

The construction of Horetown House began circa 1692 and probably took 2 or 3 years to complete.

Richard’s son Jacob married Miss Elizabeth Wilson and enjoyed a large family.

William Goff succeeded to Horetown in December 1798. His son failed to produce an heir to Horetown after two marriages and it was William’s grandson Strangman Davis son of his eldest daughter Rebecca who in 1845 became heir to Horetown.

By 1850 Strangman Davis – Goff became an enthusiastic photographer. It was during 1845 that further additions were made to the estate. Strangman’s son William Davis – Goff was the last Goff to reside at Horetown but left it for pittance in the late 1890’s to move to Waterford.

Horetown House was later occupied by Major Lackin who married Lady Fitzgerald of Johnstown Castle. Lady Fitzgerald later died as a result of a fall from a horse.

Major Lackin subsequently donated monies to the Old Wexford General Hospital hence the Lackin Wing.

In the 1961 Horetown House was bought by the Young family who opened the house to the public providing guest accommodation and restaurant earning an impressive reputation countrywide.

In 2004, Horetown House was sold to current proprietors, Tom & Bernie White and following extensive and careful renovations re–opened its doors to the public in December 2005.