Shop Review: Glendalough Fayre, Wicklow

As Jackeen blow-ins to Wicklow, Glendalough Fayre in Laragh came in handy.

We’d come from Dublin where there were ethnic food shops everywhere, where specialised ingredients like asefetida, banana leaves, and preserved lemons grew on trees, to a place where our nearest supermarket was at least half an hour away.

Glendalough Fayre – our nearest shop – saved the day more often than not. Regularly frequented by day-trippers to Glendalough, it is in fact a independent wholefood shop and really fancy convenience store.

It’s right next door to incredible Tea House Restaurant. Magazines and papers sit alongside fancy chocolates and cakes, freshly baked breads, organic fruit, veg and dairy, high-quality ready meals, all sorts of artisan pickles and relishes, spices and herbs, lentils and beans, quality tinned fish, and so on. They once apologised to me for being out of rocket (which reminds me of Jean’s post on middle class food woes).

It’s also got some lovely wines and an organic deli counter, which I haven’t eaten from because, organic or not, I’m not prepared to pay over €5 for a sandwich when I live just around the corner. The deli seems quite popular though and I reckon it’s perfect for a lunch or picnic on the way to Glendalough.

We tried not to go here too often as you’d always go down for coconut milk and come back with a box of chocolates, a block of good cheese, bread, relishes, lemonades, wine, ice cream, spending well over €30 you didn’t have.

A year ago, a lot of Glendalough Fayre’s food was a rather random collection of what you imagined a businessperson might think foodies would like and the prices were ridiculous. But it has vastly improved: prices are down and food quality seems to be up. Their fresh baguette as €2 is the type of real, French bread you can happily eat by itself with no oil or butter.

It’s still not cheap. I saw a packet of biscuits in there a few weeks ago that cost over €1 more than SuperValu (Deansgrange). But, in fairness, very few convenience stores or similar food shops (just think Donnybrook Fair) are; you’re generally paying for choice and higher quality food.

Price Check: Friday May 22

• Biona Peeled Tomatoes – €1.29
• Organic Green Lentils (500g) – €1.60
• French Baguette – €2
• Organic Lemonade (can) – €1.60
• Tayto Waffles (26g) – 52c