Articles

Tucked away in Stepaside village, near Leopardstown race course, ‘The Box Tree by Eamonn O’Reilly’ is the latest venture by one of Ireland’s foremost chefs, whose city centre restaurants – the fine dining destination, One Pico, and its more casual sister, Bleu Café Bistro - have a well-earned reputation for consistently good, ingredients-led cooking.
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When everyone heads off on the annual pilgrimage to West Cork in July, many of those in the know will make a point of dropping into this relaxed and atmospheric family-friendly restaurant in Clonakilty.
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Widely acknowledged among the great gardens of the world, Mount Usher Gardens are very easily accessible just half an hour from Dublin with the main entrance in the centre of Ashford village.
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There is nowhere like Ashford Castle - and, thanks to an exceptionally talented and dedicated team headed up by Executive Head Chef, Stefan Matz, in the kitchen and Maître d’ Robert Bowe front of house, the dining experience matches up to the magnificent backdrop.
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Despite everything that has happened here recently, Lucy Madden finds many reasons for optimism in Ireland today. A friend of mine views the world through a prism of joy and optimism; how I wish I was more like her. My inclinations are closer to Nancy Astor’s dictum “If you can’t think of anything good to say about anyone, come and sit next to me.”
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Since opening in 1994 – well before most restaurateurs in Ireland thought it might be popular or profitable to focus on local produce and traditional dishes – Kay Harte’s café above the English Market has epitomised everything that is best about simple, wholesome, fresh Irish food that has travelled as short a distance as possible to reach the plates of their happy customers.
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As more and more Irish chefs take pride in introducing customers to the foods of their locality, it is especially gratifying to find chefs who have chosen to make Ireland their home expressing the same confidence - while also bringing their own cuisine to the Irish people. Euro-Toques member Jacques Carrera is one such trailblazer...
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Just a couple of minutes’ walk across the bridge and away from the bustle of Galway’s Spanish Arch area, this theatrical restaurant was set up by husband and wife team Michael O’Meara and Sinead Hughes in 2000.
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This beautiful hotel dates back to the 16th century, and is serenely situated on its own 310 acre wooded island (complete with 18-hole golf course), reached by a private ferry.
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Feargal O’Donnell and his wife, Fiona, chose well when they took over a pub in the charming almost-waterside village of Glasson, near Athlone – immortalised by the 18th century poet Oliver Goldsmith as the ‘village of the roses’, it’s a name that’s still well-earned today. The O’Donnells’ informal style, with food that offers a timely combination of gastro-pub and contemporary fine dining in a family-friendly atmosphere, is bang on the nail – and this new venture is already very successful.
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