Firebox Grill Fahan
The Firebox Grill can be found in a scenic location on the shores of the Lough Swilly, located at Station Road in the Fahan area of Donegal.
Despite the name, the Firebox grill suits everyone from vegetarians to the more carnivorous eater. It has the tagline “soon to be famous” and they have the right to exude such confidence as the food and service ensures they can make such claims.
Lead by the culinary expertise of chefs Michael Duffy and Steven Doherty the food is presented with painstaking perfection and you will find a veritable feast contained within each order. Speaking from a personal viewpoint you will not find a better surf and turf in the North of Ireland, couple this great food with real Donegal warmth and atmosphere and you will find one of the finest eateries in the country.
The Firebox Grill restaurant offers a fully licenced bar including a large range of specially selected wines. On select nights the restaurant provides live music to enhance the dining experience. The acts are chosen from the crème de la crème of local talent, many of whom have internationally touring careers.
The Firebox Grill Fahan also welcomes large groups and has areas which cater for private functions such as weddings, christenings, birthdays and anniversaries.
As well as the fine food, great service and warm atmosphere the Railway tavern has a rich and fascinating history which adds to its uniqueness.
The restaurant is situated on the premises of the railway tavern which had previously been the Station House of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway company (L&LSR). It was part of the Derry to Buncrana line which first operated in September 1864; it used narrow gauge steam locomotives to transport passengers up until the 8th August 1953 when the service ended.
It’s from these locomotives that the Firebox Grill gets its name as it was the coal fireboxes on the locomotives which provided the cooking heat for the engineers snacks and tea breaks. The first catering facilities appeared at the premises in the 1880s thanks to then station master James Bond whose intrepidness provided Fahan station with electric before any other station in Ireland.
He placed a windmill on Fahan Hill which drove a small generator to produce electricity which he then used to provide refreshments and food facilities for passengers.
The Swilly Line brought people from Derry to Fahan and Buncrana to enjoy the beach and other facilities that weren’t available in the city while those involved in the Buncrana fishing fleet travelled to the bustling marketplace in Derry.