Welcome to the Shearwater Hotel & Spa Galway
At last, a restaurant of distinction offering superior Irish cuisine emphasising Carlton's usual attention to detail.
The Carlton Shearwater offers the very best in fresh local produce skillfully prepared by our expert chefs. Our adage is consistent quality. The Carlton Shearwater restaurant, Marengo's, with seating for 120, offers superior Irish cuisine with some international favourites added to cater for the many international travelers visiting. Creative cooking, inspired use of seasonal ingredients and an innovative menu await you here. Our chef has received many accolades for his culinary expertise and has developed an impressive choice of four unique dining experiences, each with their own inimitable style and ambience.
Marengo
Marengo was the famous war mount of Napoleon Bonaparte. Named after the Marengi Battle, through which he carried his rider safely, Marengo was imported to France in 1799 as a 6-year-old. As legend has it the gray Arabian was purchased in Ballinasloe, Ireland. Although small, only 14.1hh, he was reliable, steady and courageous mount.
Marengo was wounded eight times in his career, and carried the Emperor in the battles of Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram and Waterloo. He also was frequently used in the 80 mile gallops from Valladoid to Burgos, which he often completed in 5 hours. As one of 52 horses in Napoleon’s personal stud, Marengo fled with these horses when it was raided by Russians in 1812, surviving the retreat from Moscow. However, the stallion was captured in 1815 at the battle of Waterloo by Lord Petre.
Petre brought the horse back to England and sold him on to General J.J. Angerstein of the Grenadier Guards. Marengo stood at stud at New Barnesl, near Ely, at the age of 27. He eventually died at the age of 38, and his skeleton (minus a hoof) was placed on display at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London. The hoof was given to the officers of the Brigade of Guards by General Angerstein as a snuff box.