The Willie John McBride Seal Of Approval: Billy Andy’s Restaurant

First things first – Superb food!

We arrived at Billy Andy’s to meet Penny & Willie John McBride who had kindly agreed to carry out a review of the restaurant.

Richard Hunter the owner greeted us and immediately the rugby memories began to flow.

In fact, Richard played against Willie John in the senior cup final 1979-80 season. It was the last game Willie John played and it just goes to show the depth of rugby in Ulster. There must be no town or village in Ulster that a rugby player passes through that does not have someone he has played against!

What an honour for Richard to play against the most successful and best Lions Captain ever!

As Willie John quipped, “Well done Richard, I will finally shake your hand and say well done to CI on winning the senior cup final that year, but you did drop the ball on scoring that final try.” Such is rugby, 30 years later and they are still arguing about who was the better team.

Billy Andys is run by rugby people then, not a bad start!

We were seated in the newly extended restaurant, warm and homely, the traditional surroundings were superb. Everything clean and tidy and a fairly decent crowd for a Wednesday evening.

The food was spectacular. Scallops Starter and Steak Medium Rare for main course, with veg, chips, onion rings, and for dessert a beautiful chocolate brownie!

As Willie John, ” I don’t normally order steak but having been to Billy andys before I knew it would be irrisistible – It was and we thoroughly recommend it.”

We shall finish then with two things

First a picture of Richard sailing through the air to score the winning try in the Senior Cup Final of 1979/80

Second a picture of Willie John McBride the most successful lion ever.

He says Richard dropped the ball. To get Richards version why not have a meal at Billy Andys and ask him yourself what it was like to play against Willie John.

Billy Andy’s website – CLICK HERE –