Articles

With only four more of Castlefarm’s autumn herd to calve and most of our calves sold I feel like I can take a bit of a breather from the farm. Our cows are now indoors full time. They eat silage and sleep on straw.
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In 2014 Ireland’s premier association of country houses, historic hotels and restaurants, The Blue Book, will celebrate 40 years since its foundation. Gillian Nelis talks to founder member Myrtle Allen and incoming president, Catherine Dundon, about the association and its enduring success
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Our famously informative “glovebox bible” Georgina Campbell’s Ireland, The Best of Irish Food & Hospitality is back in print by popular demand. Having emerged from a spell as an online-only guide, this new print version is designed as a handy compact companion to Ireland’s leading independent hospitality and food website, Ireland-guide.com.
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With the seventh Savour Kilkenny Food Festival coming up (24-28 October 2013; www.savourkilkenny.com), there’s no better time to visit the Marble City - and no better place to eat than the Kilkenny Design Centre, just across the road from Kilkenny Castle. It has long been a favourite destination for lovers of good food and that’s down to the committed leadership of Kathleen Moran, proprietor since the centre opened in 1989.
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This month Marilyn Bright talks to Gary Crean, proprietor of one of Dublin’s oldest and most famous restaurants, The Lobster Pot, in Ballsbridge.
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Darina reflects on what the 12 Week Certificate Course means to the students who complete it - and proudly announces that both she and her brother Rory O’Connell have finally moved into the 21st century and have (very active) Facebook pages!
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With autumn comes the harvest, and so many treats to be enjoyed. This miscellany of seasonal dishes is from Irish Country House Cooking, The Blue Book Recipe Collection - inspiration perhaps for some relaxing travel while the country is at its best.
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In the latest of a series which shows how to get the best from particular food and beer pairings, our expert columnist and food blogger KRISTIN JENSEN gives her tips on matching Stout and Oysters - a classic partnership that offers plenty of scope for imaginative variations
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Rachel Gaffney, the famous foodie who’s flying the flag for Ireland in Texas, shares some of the good - and, revealingly, some of the not so good - experiences of a recent visit back to Ireland with her family
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Lucy Madden considers those who admit that they do not like holidays - and there are more of them (us?) than you might think
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