Exploring "Terroirs Project" in Dingle. Le Caveau Wine Tasting at Restaurant 505.

 Le Caveau Wine Tasting at Restaurant 505.

Exploring "Terroirs Project" at Dingle Food Festival 2026

We had a very enjoyable and very entertaining Le Caveau wine tasting at Damien Ring’s 505 Restaurant in Dingle, the wines presented by the dynamic double act of Aoife and Colm McCan, all part of the annual Dingle Food Festival. 

This pic from Slea Head

Damien began to make his reputation in Screbe House (Connemara), enhanced it at Kingdom 1795 in Killorglin and is now, I’m told, in his happy place in Dingle’s Dykegate Street.

Highlight of the wines presented was perhaps the Portuguese white Maresia. It is 11% alcohol and 100% Loureiro. It has real flavour intensity with a touch of sour cherry and some saltiness on the finish. And our presenters have it christened it the “Garryvoe wine”  because of the crustacean encrusted seaside rock on the label.

We had started with a lively and delightful Pet Nat from the Schödl family in Austria. That impressed as did the Safari in Natura, an easy drinking orange wine by the same family. 

A couple of light reds followed. We particularly enjoyed the Côtes du Rhône 'Les Oliviers' , part of 'Terroirs Project', a cooperation between local vignerons and Les Caves de Pyrene. The aim is to produce honest wines from plots farmed organically, with minimal intervention in the winery and coming out to the public at democratic prices. 

The Oliviers, French for olive trees, is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Syrah. The Maresia above is also part of this project. Fairly priced, so do keep an eye out for the which now offers dozens of wines from different countries.

Purchased at the market stalls

Earlier that misty morning, after a hearty Full Irish at Greenmount House, we allowed ourselves a decent interval before heading downtown to take in the food festival. 

We decided against the excellent taste ticket method (that that we’ve employed and enjoyed in the past) and went for a few nibbles, highlight of which were a couple of simple crepes from a stall at the top of Grey’s Lane. 

Also, as always, we stocked up with salts from West of Dingle and bought ourselves a tin of Crystallised ginger pieces from Blasta Delights, and more. Looking forward to trying out that ginger!

Supporting local in Chorca Dhuibhne. Sláinte

Also on this trip:

Dingle on a Sunny Saturday

Blas na hEireann winners 2026

Look out for upcoming posts on Greenmount House, Fenton's Restaurant, the Humble Fishmonger and more.

Postcards from the Western Edge. Dingle on a sunny day. Inch Beach, Slea Head and Clogher

Postcards from the Western Edge

Dingle on a sunny day

The view of the Blasket Islands as you crest Clogher.

Hard to beat the Dingle peninsula on a sunny day. We hit the jackpot last Saturday.

The local food festival, quite the event, was in full swing but we gave it a skip until the following day,  reasoning that it was best to take in the outdoor sights in favourable weather.

Inch Beach

First stop, after a 2-hour trip from Cork, was the fabulous Inch Beach, made famous by the filming of Ryan’s Daughter there in 1970. The car park was close to full when we pulled in but there is quite an overflow as lines of cars park on the beach itself.

The first action we saw, as we tucked into our snack, was a couple of the beach ponies enjoying themselves rolling in the softer sand at the back. Quite a bit of activity on the water also, no shortage of hardy swimmers and also quite a few paddling their canoes.

No shortage of space to walk on Inch.

Slea Head

After a long stroll, it was back to the car and the spectacular drive west to Dingle itself. The town was packed for the festival with cars parked up everywhere you looked. We had to been on full alert for careless pedestrians as we made our way through town and out past the distillery in the direction of Slea Head.

This is part of the superb Wild Atlantic Way drive, based in Dingle. We often call to Ventry Beach but drove by this time and soon arrived at Slea Head, relieved that there was plenty of room in the car park.

The beach at Slea Head

Time for another walk. No, not to the top of the nearby hill - we’ve done that in the past - but just down the hard-surfaced road to the beach, taking in the views of the jagged rocks below, and, believe it or not, a display of local landscape paintings with the artist on hand to chat.

The tide was pretty well out at the time and just one or two swimmers were in the water. Took something of a shortcut on our way back to the car park, aided by a some well-placed and well-spaced steps.

Art imitating life.... at Slea Head

A few minutes later, we arrived at our final outdoor stop, Clogher, a rugged hill that is close to the well-signposted Louis Mulcahy Pottery. The hill is not the easiest of climbs so our walking shoes and a stick each were deployed.

Sybil Head

There are different paths as you go up, most are stony and sometimes one or more may be boggy. I’ve been up there a good few times and I reckon I’ve never used the same route up and down. But you won’t get lost!

Clogher Strand, with the Three Sisters peaks at top left.

The reward, as you reach the summit and crest it, is a superb ocean view with the Blasket Islands (including the “isolated” Sleeping Giant) right in the middle. On the way down (and up, if you look back occasionally), there are splendid views of Ceann Sibéal, the Three Sisters and the local strand. Clogher is really worth the effort. Just be careful!

The Three Sisters

After all that walking, I felt I deserved a reward and had just the place in mind. Tigh Bhric is on the "back" way back to Dingle and is both a bar and also houses the West Kerry Brewery. Here, you’ll some of Ireland’s best craft beers. 

They currently have a great deal, ten 500ml bottles for forty euros. Soon, a nice stash of Beal Bán, Cúl Dorcha and Blue Rose Irish PA, was placed in the boot before we headed back to Dingle and our base at the fabulous Greenmount House at the top of John Street.

Also on this trip:

Dingle on a Sunny Saturday

Blas na hEireann winners 2026

Look out for upcoming posts on Greenmount House, Fenton's Restaurant, the Humble Fishmonger and more.

Blas na hÉireann 2026 winners announced in Dingle.Thirty eight producers from Co. Cork awarded.

 Blas na hÉireann 2026 winners announced in Dingle

Thirty eight producers from Co. Cork awarded. 

Second Street Bakeshop win Best in County and Best Artisan Producer, (proudly supported by Cork Local Enterprise Office)

Pictured is Caroline Hennessy (centre) from Eight Degrees Brewing, Cork
who won Gold at the Blas na hÉireann Awards 2026 in Dingle. 

Dingle was the place to be on Friday 2nd October for the eagerly anticipated finals of Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in their 19th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland.

 

This year, 51 producers from Co. Cork were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with 38 of them taking home coveted Blas awards. The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include:

Alternative Christmas Pudding Co., Bandon Vale Cheese, Bantry Bay Mussels, Barry & Fitzwilliam, Cake Wheelers, Clóna Dairy Products Ltd., Coastal Trading, Cully & Sully, Durrus Cheese, Eight Degrees Brewing, Five Farms, Folláin, Hassetts Bakers & Confectioners ltd., Hyde Irish Whiskey, Hyde ltd, Irish Yogurts Clonakilty, K O'Connell Fishmongers, Keohane Seafoods, Kepak Ltd, Macroom Buffalo Cheese, McCarthy's of Kanturk, Niks Tea, OGAM Foods Limited, On The Pigs Back, Rebel City Distillery, SAGE 2 GO, SAGE by, Kev Aherne, Salt of Kinsale ltd, Saturday Pizzas, Second Street Bakeshop, Sibly Food Co., Skeaghanore West Cork Farm, Spice O' Life, St Patrick’s Distillery Ltd, Stonewell Cider, The Good Fish Company, Toons Bridge Dairy and West Cork Distillers. 

Second Street Bakeshop was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Cork Local Enterprise Office and the prestigious Best Artisan Producer award, supported by the LEO Network.

"I’m absolutely thrilled to receive the Best Artisan Producer award for Second Street Bakeshop,” said founder Claire Keane. “After starting my first food business in San Francisco almost 20 years ago, coming back to Cork and building something new from the ground up has been a really exciting chapter. Our Toffee Popcorn Brittle is all about using simple, natural ingredients to make something that people genuinely love to eat, so to have it recognised by Blas na hÉireann is incredibly rewarding. It’s also a wonderful celebration of the producers, suppliers, the team and the Local Enterprise Office who have supported me along the way, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”

"Cork City Local Enterprise Office are delighted for Second Street," said Niall O'Keefe, Head of Enterprise, Cork City LEO. "Claire and her team have been a pleasure to work with. Their journey is a great example of a company constantly seeking best practice to provide the best products for their customers. This latest award is further evidence of Second Street going from strength to strength."

 

2026 marks another record year for Blas na hÉireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 200 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink. 

This year’s finalists and winners had the opportunity to bring their products to life at the Blas Village and the ever-popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both returning to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions, supported by Bank of Ireland. Across the weekend, producers connected with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers and passionate food lovers, while celebrating the people, creativity and craft at the heart of Ireland’s thriving food and drink scene.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hÉireann, said: “2026 has once again shown us just how exciting and dynamic Ireland’s food and drink industry is. The standard of entries continues to climb, with producers demonstrating incredible creativity and a real commitment to quality. Reaching the finalist stage is a remarkable achievement in itself, and to take home a Blas award is brilliant recognition of the hard work and passion that goes into every product. It’s particularly special to see producers from across the country come together in Dingle to share their stories, celebrate their successes and champion the very best of Irish food and drink. Blas is about much more than awards – it’s about celebrating the people and community behind one of Ireland’s most exciting industries. Next year we will celebrate 20 years of the awards and it's incredible to see just how far we've come in those two decades.”

The Blas na hÉireann awards weekend ran from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink. Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.

George's Street Arcade and Iveagh Gardens. Two lesser-known Dublin attractions

 George's Street  Arcade and Iveagh Gardens

Two lesser-known Dublin attractions

Bombay Banshee

The gardens are a popular lunchtime stroll and you are as likely to see business men in pinstripes and sneakers as a more relaxed walker in a more colourful outfit, possibly bought in the fascinating George's Street Arcade. Both the park and the arcade are no doubt well known to locals, perhaps not so to visitors.

Both are relatively central but I have to admit I visited neither until a recent mid-September break in the capital. And yet both have been there for a long time, the gardens since 1865 and the arcade since 1881.

The arcade in Dublin2, was Ireland’s first purpose-built shopping centre, and one of Europe’s oldest city markets, is a wonderful experience! Located in the heart of Dublin city centre in the cultural quarter area it is less than 5 minutes walk from Grafton Street and Temple Bar and Trinity College.

In this enclosed Victorian market you can enjoy ‘independent’ boutique shops and stalls ranging from trendy often, vintage, clothing, jewellery, funky music, collectable items, souvenirs and much more along with wonderful dining and food options.

My search for a book, The Night of Camp David (Fletcher Knebel), brought me here, to the stall of Stokes Books. But no luck here as Stokes concentrate on non-fiction and my target is a novel. But we did have a lovely conversation about books in general and I can certainly recommend a visit there if you’re hunting a non-fiction work, even if just want to poke around! 

You’ll find their latest catalogue here. 

Inveagh Gardens

Designed by Ninian Niven in 1865, but with a history dating back over three hundred years, the Iveagh Gardens are located close to St Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin city centre.

Short video of the Cascade in full flow.

From modest beginnings as an earl’s lawn, the gardens went on to host the splendour of the Dublin Exhibition Palace in 1865. Many of the original landscape features are still in place, or have been restored and conserved since 1995. These include the yew maze, the rosarium, and the fountains. The cascade in particular is a stunning spectacle in summer. Iveagh Gardens are popularly known as Dublin’s ‘Secret Garden’. By the way, I couldn't find any signs for it on Harcourt St!

Also on the trip:

Two French Restaurants in Dublin 2

EPIC - Irish Emigration Museum

Three Dublin Cafes worth noting.

Bouef & Frites. Superb Steak

Culchies on the Capital Culture Trail.  Visual Poetry. The Photography Of John Minihan

CHRISTMAS, TWIXMAS AND NEW YEAR AT DUNLUCE LODGE

HOTEL OFFERS WINTER 2026 (inc. Christmas and New Year).

press releases

CHRISTMAS, TWIXMAS AND NEW YEAR AT DUNLUCE LODGE

– Pre-Christmas escapes, fireside dining, Twixmas on the Causeway Coast 

and a Coastal Escape from £295 –

Nutcrackers by the fire

 

Open log fires, fabulous food, fine Irish whiskey and wild Atlantic walks are on the menu this Christmas at the five-star Dunluce Lodge in Portrush, Co. Antrim, as the luxury retreat unveils its festive season of pre-Christmas stays, indulgent ‘Twixmas’ escapes and New Year celebrations.

 

The 35-suite Lodge, overlooking the fourth fairway of Royal Portrush Golf Club and just 300 metres from spectacular Whiterocks Beach, will welcome guests throughout the run-up to Christmas before closing on Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day, 25th and 26th December. It reopens for ‘Twixmas’, those wonderfully unhurried days between Christmas and New Year when the entertaining is done and there is finally time to disappear somewhere lovely.

 

The December Coastal Escape is available from 1st December to 23rd December and features a luxurious overnight escape complete with a £50 dining voucher to savour an exceptional culinary experience from the À La Carte menu. (From £295 per room per night).

For New Year’s Eve, Dunluce Lodge has created a special New Year’s Eve Experience from £625 per room, including an overnight stay, welcome refreshment on arrival, three-course dinner in Bailiú Restaurant, live entertainment and a midnight toast to welcome 2027, followed by a full Irish breakfast on New Year’s Day. Guests also have access to The Spa’s steam room and gym, with complimentary local transfers available on request. And because New Year’s Day is surely better spent lingering over breakfast than packing a suitcase, additional nights are available for £260 per room per night.

Pink sky over putting green

 

For families planning their own festive gathering, The Stookan, Dunluce Lodge’s private residence, can also be hired exclusively. Comprising eight individually appointed suites and accommodating up to 16 guests, it offers a luxurious solution for several generations who want to spend precious time together while retaining the privacy and comfort of their own space.

 

One of the newest members of Ireland’s Blue Book and part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Dunluce Lodge has quickly established itself as one of the island’s most exciting luxury retreats. And winter may just be when it is at its best. Outside, the wind can howl in from the Atlantic, rain can sweep across the golf links and waves crash onto Whiterocks Beach. Inside, fires crackle, lamps glow against warm fabrics and deep sofas, and the bar beckons with a hot whiskey or a beautifully poured dram of something local.

For those who do venture outside, Whiterocks Beach is just 300 metres away. Wrap up and take a bracing walk along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Causeway Coast before returning rosy-cheeked to the Lodge, shedding the winter layers and settling beside the fire.

 

Food is central to the experience and dining here is really something special. Executive Head Chef Stephen Holland, named Chef of the Year at the Licensed & Catering News Awards 2026, describes the produce of the Causeway Coast as “nature’s pantry”, and his cooking celebrates the exceptional ingredients found on Dunluce Lodge’s doorstep.  Menus take their inspiration from the land and sea, with outstanding seasonal produce, fresh fish and ingredients sourced from local and Northern Irish suppliers forming the heart of the dining experience.

 

Guests can dine in Bailiú Restaurant, while the atmospheric Wine Vault can be reserved for private dining, a particularly special setting for a festive lunch, family dinner or gathering of friends, surrounded by a carefully curated collection of fine wines.

A winter stay can be as active or as gloriously inactive as guests choose. The Spa offers a cocoon from the winter weather, with restorative treatments, a steam room and the Lodge’s Drift & Dream Ritual, incorporating grounding breathwork and personalised massage. Guests can also work off dinner in the fully equipped gym overlooking the surrounding woodland.

 

Dunluce Lodge has its own PGA-approved nine-hole putting green, designed by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert, providing the perfect setting for a fun, family putting competition. For larger family gatherings, The Stookan allows everyone to come together for long lunches, coastal walks, private dinners and evenings over a bottle of wine, before retreating to the comfort of their own suite. Special dining experiences can be arranged, while guests have the Lodge, Spa and Causeway Coast to enjoy at their own pace.

Twixmas is perhaps when Dunluce Lodge really comes into its own. Those wonderfully unhurried days between Christmas and New Year lend themselves perfectly to a slower pace. As the winter weather closes in across the Causeway Coast, guests can retreat to the warmth of the Lodge for a hot whiskey, cocktails by the bar and dinner accompanied by a carefully chosen bottle of wine. With no Christmas shopping, cooking or entertaining to think about, it is an opportunity to properly switch off and enjoy a few days where there is very little that needs to be done and nowhere else one needs to be.

 

There are thoughtful luxuries back in the suite too, from The Larder at Dunluce, stocked with a curated selection of North Coast flavours and refreshments, to evening turndown complete with a chocolate treat from local chocolatier The Chocolate Manor.

Whether it is a few indulgent days before Christmas, a private multigenerational gathering at The Stookan, a restorative Twixmas escape or dressing up to welcome 2027, Dunluce Lodge offers a very different sort of festive season.

 

Gift vouchers are also available for Dunluce Lodge, The Spa and for dining, offering the perfect Christmas present for someone who appreciates quiet luxury and the pleasure of having something rather special to look forward to. For reservations and further information, telephone +44 (0) 28 705 31 700 or email reservations@dunlucelodge.com.  For more see www.dunlucelodge.com