Dine underwater without getting wet! That’s the promise from Dingle's Humble Fishmonger.

Dine underwater without getting wet! That’s the promise from Dingle's Humble Fishmonger.

Super Prawn Roll . They also had lobster rolls on special.

Here at Wave Dingle, you may indeed enjoy your meal with dolphins and rays and lots of smaller fish as well passing by in the expansive 3D underwater display room (or outside on the deck!). The long room is dimly lit and, on the side opposite the long display screen, long strips (representing seaweeds) hang from the roof. In the middle of the floor there’s a large rock with starfish attached.

And you’ll be well fed too with incredible fresh seafood from hot honey grilled prawn rolls to classic Guinness-battered fish and ice cold Aperol Spritzes plus local craft beer (go for the blonde). Enjoy your meal inside the display room or outside on the deck!

Indeed, that Hot Honey Prawn Roll (€15.50) consisting of Grilled prawns, hot honey, chilli mayo, and rocket was one of my choices and perhaps the dish of the evening, sweet and fresh and in a soft brioche bun.

In fresh seafood places, I’m often inclined to try the oysters. And they had a few versions to try here including the Classic Mignonette (red wine vinegar, shallots & black pepper) and also Jalapeño Granita with lime & cucumber.  My pick though as the Rockefeller with butter, herbs & panko breadcrumbs. Superb and fairly priced at €18.00 for six.

We could also have started with some non-fish Grilled Sourdough Toast (crostini), with Garlic, or Mozzarella or Cheddar.

CL started with mussels (12.50, mains with fries 19.50). And she had choices: Mariniere, Thai or Drunken Sailor. She picked the Thai and that enhanced the molluscs no end.

Her second dish was the Crispy Calamari Salad with Cajun seasoning, sesame, sweet chilli, rocket, Asian pickled cucumbers (Starter €10.00 / Mains €16.50). Quite a bowlful of these crispy and flavoursome calamari and I managed to steal a few samples. Another dish from the Fishmonger that we can highly recommend.

And there’s more than dine-in here. Most of the dishes are available to take away, indeed the dine-in ones are also served mostly in “cardboard’; containers,. And , if you’d like to cook at home, there’s also a fresh fish counter.

Calamari

And it is not all fish as the restaurant also offers a quarter of burgers.

So there you have it, The Humble Fishmonger is a sea-to-table seafood bar, shop, and takeaway located at  (The Wood) in Dingle, operated by the four-generation O'Catháin family. 

The family, who have their fishing roots in the famous Blasket Islands, expertly combine a working fish-processing factory with a casual dining experience, featuring an immersive (not submersive!) 3D underwater display room and a candlelit pirate room at Wave Dingle, plus outdoor deck seating.

Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (available for dine-in and popular takeaway).

Contact: +353 (0)87 476 9319

Info, including menu, here

Also on this trip:

The Humble Fishmonger

Dingle on a Sunny Saturday

Blas na hEireann winners 2026

Fenton's Restaurant Dingle

Greenmount House

Exploring "Terroirs Project" with Le Caveau in Dingle

Autumn's settling in at Blarney Castle Gardens.

Autumn's settling in at Blarney Castle Gardens

pics: 18.10.26

Great Western Cedar, after recent trim.

Artichoke (or Cardoon?)

Michaelmas Daisy

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Butterflies still active in Blarney Castle Gardens.

pics: 09.10.26

A peacock butterfly, busy on a Michaelmas Daisy

The great Western Cedar tree has been pruned, if that is the word.

Autumn's creeping in!

The castle and Ester Barrett's "survival"

Venus fly traps

In the carnivorous garden

Virginia Creeper turning red.

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Spiders are busy in the wood at Blarney Castle Gardens

Autumn's arriving (and below)

Fern Tree

Ireland's Tree of the Year 2019 will bewitch you  in the Blarney Castle Gardens

Pics: 09.05.2026

The amazing Witches Yew Tree (well, most of it) at @blarneycastleandgardens.
It was Ireland’s Tree of the Year in 2019.

 Celtic Peace Dove  by Nigel

Regaining community with the help of Cork Penny Dinners

 Regaining community with the help of Cork Penny Dinners

Chef Jack working on the menu

When you first think of Cork Penny Dinners, you may not think of it as a place of joy as yes, those who are homeless and hungry come to the Cork charity on James Street for much needed support and respite from their difficult situations. But many people do find their way back to joy and community with the help of Penny Dinners.

 

Volunteering is a huge part of the Cork charity’s work and makes an amazing impact. Why take when you could be giving? Paul McHugh is one example. Having suffered a stroke, he decided to give something back and he and his family joined the volunteers in James Street.

 

When I walked into the premises a few weeks back, the first person I met was Lisa Murphy, busy at a food station. I didn’t know then that she was a former service user, homeless for a few years and relying on Penny Dinners. But she bounced back and is now a key member or the charity’s team. Not just Penny Dinners but also a voluntary contributor to the Mayfield Community Development Project and her dedication was noted in 2025 when she was honoured as Volunteer of the Year for City North at the Cork Volunteer Awards.

Volunteers all.

 

Speaking of volunteering means speaking of Catriona Twomey, the long-time volunteer coordinator and trustee at Cork Penny Dinners. Indeed, the name is synonymous with Cork Penny Dinners.

 

In 2021, she was deservedly the Cork Person of the Year, joining a varied and distinguished list that includes the likes of John Creedon (broadcaster), The Frank and Walters (band), John A Murphy (historian) and top sports people such as Sonia O’Sullivan, Roy Keane, Rob Heffernan and Jimmy Barry Murphy.  Caitriona remains a valued member of the board of trustees.   

If you ask any Cork person for their favourite charity, Cork Penny Dinners will more than likely top the list. It seems it has been there forever. Not quite forever, but the charity was founded in 1888. 

Inspired by a growing movement in London, where a single penny could buy a hot, nourishing meal, a group of women in Cork took action. “On March 12th, they met at the Imperial Hotel to bring the Penny Dinner idea to their city - not as charity in the traditional sense, but as a dignified, structured form of nourishment and care.” 

 

As years turned into decades, the work continued through war, recession, urban change, and rising need. Cork answered again and again - with pennies, potatoes, and presence. And so it continues today and, no doubt, into the future though they wouldn’t mind becoming redundant if and when society no longer needs their intervention.

For the present though, the work goes on. 

 

Covid 19 forced them into takeaway only but the recently reopened sit-down service is much appreciated as it opens an avenue to company and a chat. 

The charity receives no government funding and it doesn't charge service users a penny to come and eat. The charity recently launched its Just One Meal appeal asking members of the public to donate to help cover the cost of preparing and serving one warm, nutritious meal at their James Street kitchen in Cork. You can donate to Just One Meal at corkpennydinners.org/justonemeal/.

* Thanks to Sharon Murphy (GM Cork Penny Dinners) and her staff for help in putting this post together.

 

Summary

Cork Penny Dinners, a venerable and vital charitable organisation, provide nourishing hot meals, warm clothing, and essential support to those experiencing food poverty, homelessness, and hardship. Operating 365 days a year—including Christmas Day—the charity relies entirely on public donations, volunteers, and community goodwill to maintain its unconditional "no judgment" service. 

 

Services & Support Provided

• Hot Meals: Freshly prepared three-course meals (soup, main course, dessert, and tea/coffee) served daily in a welcoming, newly restored sit-down environment.
• Takeaway Food: Sandwiches, fruit, biscuits, juice, and water to sustain individuals into the evening.
• Material Aid: Access to warm winter clothing (jumpers, hats, scarves) and essential bedding like sleeping bags and duvets.
• Food Hampers: Distribution of roughly 100 dedicated food parcels every week to families struggling with the cost of living. 

 

Location & Operating Hours

The charity operates out of its modern, expanded facility located just off Washington Street near the courthouse. 

 

• Address: 13 James St, Centre, Cork, T12PN7X
• Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Contact: +353 21 206 6544 | mail@corkpennydinners.ie 

 

 

Greenmount House. One of the very best!

 Greenmount House. One of the very best!

Breakfast is a treat at Greenmount House in Dingle, not least because it is taken in one of the best dining rooms, overlooking Dingle and its bay. Service is top-notch. Your Full Irish will be adjusted to order, unlike many places that seem to note your requests but then ignore them when the plate arrives. That Full Irish, packed with local produce, is indeed a treat and another is Diana’s Golden Pancakes. Other main courses include Floyd’s Florentine, Halloumi Stack, Vegan Morning Salad and Maria’s Egg Roll.

And tea or coffee? Of course, but here, they ask if you want it immediately or when your food is being served. So we ask for it with the food, and that's when it arrives. And believe it or not, there is a dessert option, Home Baked Traditional Hot Pudding or Cake of the Day! After your opening juice, another treat to look out for is their warm succulent marinated fruit offering.

The impressive architect-designed house at the top of Dingle’s John Street catches your eye as you drive up. But it is the warm welcome that stays longest with you. It's all calm and warm from the instant you walk in until the goodbye chat. Here, you are among new friends. And that warmth continued throughout.

I have stayed in a variety of hotels and other accommodations in Ireland over recent years and have no hesitation at all in putting Dingle’s Greenmount House at the top of the list. Here, thanks to the Curran family and staff, to the comfort of its rooms and public areas, to the excellence of its breakfast (including that dining room with a stunning view), and to its location, Greenmount is well worth seeking out. 

Just don’t leave it until the last minute, as the house on John Street, opened to guests by the Currans in 1977, has quite a reputation and is very popular indeed. Peaceful, quiet and with the cosy comforts of a traditional B&B room with all the necessary modern amenities, and including its own ample parking, it’s a pleasure to stay here when visiting the town and the peninsula.

Something sweet to finish
the breakfast? Why not?

It is just a few minutes walk to the area where you’ll find most of the restaurants (including the famous Doyle’s and Fenton’s), and cafés. A few minutes more, you’ll be on the Marina with even more choices. A new favourite is the Humble Fishmonger, just beyond the Marina parking but still just a 20-minute walk from Greenmount or a short taxi ride. If you bring the car downtown, you’ll have plenty of parking at the marina and indeed at the venue itself.

Greenmount is well placed for visits to the peninsula’s top attractions. For instance, the Dingle Distillery is just a 7-minute drive away, the Aquarium (5), Ventry (13), Slea Head (28), Blasket Heritage Centre (29), Dunquin (23), Clocher (23), Louis Mulcahy (24), Ballyferriter (17), West Kerry Brewery (15), Castlegregory (32 via Conor Pass and 40 via Annascaul) and Tralee (52).

Our room was very comfortable indeed, with a superb bed, armchairs, and complete with all the mod cons (including charging points for phones), flat screen TV and a mini-fridge. Wireless High Speed Internet Access is complimentary in all the rooms and the hotel’s public areas. Chocolates and truffles keep appearing (well, they kept disappearing!) The bathroom, with a bath and superb shower is equally well equipped.

Just down the road from Greenmount.

You can make your way to the luxurious public areas at any time, perhaps to read a book, play a board game or simply to relax. Here, the coffee is always on, and there is also a wine bar (bottled beer available) that may be availed before strolling into town for dinner or for having a nightcap when you return. 

For more on this fabulous guesthouse, see https://www.greenmounthouse.ie/

Also on this trip:

The Humble Fishmonger

Dingle on a Sunny Saturday

Blas na hEireann winners 2026

Fenton's Restaurant Dingle

Greenmount House

Exploring "Terroirs Project" with Le Caveau in Dingle.

Fenton’s Dingle is super local. No air miles here.

Fenton’s Dingle is super local. 

No air miles here.

Dexter rump

Fenton's Dexter Tagliata

Fenton’s is super local. No need to worry about provenance or air miles here.

Dexter beef is a highlight in the well-loved Dingle restaurant and is produced organically from Paddy Fenton’s herd of this native breed. Fish and Seafood are all caught and bought from local fishermen of the Dingle Peninsula. Vegetables and Herbs are all sourced from local Dingle Farmers or homegrown on the Fenton Farm. 

You can be sure that your meal at Fenton’s will give you a true taste of local Dingle produce. No need to worry about provenance or air miles here. Established in the mid 90s and owned by Patricia Fenton, it is a very comfortable, and popular, venue on Green Street in the heart of the town and the service is superb, both friendly and efficient.

I had Dexter on my mind well before we entered the restaurant recently. The  rare small native breed, is reared, grass fed, in the nearby family farm,“The Paddock’, that overlooks Dingle Bay. And the meat cooked over organic American oak in Bertha, their charcoal oven.

Fenton's Olives & Onions

I had two Dexter choices, the Striploin Bearnaise with boulangere potatoes, caramelised onions, and wild mushrooms being one. The other was the Tagliata, an Italian dish (the word means "sliced" in Italian).  It is cooked over high heat until charred on the outside and rare or medium-rare inside. 

It is sliced thinly against the grain, having been rested for 5 to 10 minutes. The Fenton version was perfect, the tender and flavourful meat served with chimichurri, black garlic dressing, salad leaves, and a scattering of parmesan.

Fenton's Monkfish & scallops

Very happy with that gem and there was a thumbs up from the other side of the table where Fenton’s well known ability with fish was being put to the test. The Seared Monkfish & Scallops, lemon, fennel, and citrus butter came through with flying colours.

Other main courses available included Black Sole (Dover Sole-slips) on the bone, herb butter; Fillet of Hake, red pesto, caper berry butter sauce; Char-grilled Supreme of Chicken; and a Vegan Vegetarian Plate.

As regards starters, they have a limited supply (seasonal) of oysters, available in three different versions from Kelly’s of Galway and Mussels, also Kellys.

The Blaskets, from the top of Clogher

Quite a few other starters including Complimentary homemade soda scones, house pesto, butter with dip. Also on offer were Calamaris Fritos; Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella; Dingle Goats Cheese brioche; Fenton's house salad. mixed leaves, walnuts, dried cranberries, olives. We enjoyed their Selection of olives, pickled onions, the mix made the taste buds sit up and ready for the mains.

Also on this trip:

The Humble Fishmonger

Dingle on a Sunny Saturday

Blas na hEireann winners 2026

Fenton's Restaurant Dingle

Greenmount House

Exploring "Terroirs Project" with Le Caveau in Dingle