The exterior of Heffernan’s Pub in Wexford. Photo: June 2025.
Heffernan’s was a pub that was situated at 64 South Main Street in Wexford town.
It had a reputation for being a bit rough. However, I drank at the pub on several occasions over the years, and I never experienced any issues. A number of my older relatives were also regulars up until the late 2000s, and they never mentioned any serious trouble.
Heffernan’s was one of the few establishments that hosted the Irish Traveller community for special events such as funerals. Many of the other businesses around town would find a way to avoid serving them.
It was an old-fashioned, traditional Irish pub that was popular among the working class. Since its closure, many of its patrons have spread out to other bars such as the Foggy Dew, the Pike, Jim McGee’s, and Casey’s (Gaynors).
Heffernan’s closed at some point in 2021. Judging by reviews on social media, it appears as though the doors were shut during the summer of that year. Obviously, it was a difficult time for many publicans due to the social distancing restrictions that were in place. For many, it was the final blow. Especially for those who were weighing up the possibility of retirement.
