A Walk on the spectacular Sheep's Head, and lunch in Arundel's By The Pier.

 A Walk on the spectacular Sheep's Head.

 Lunch in Arundel's By The Pier.

Looking down from Seefin (where there is parking available), towards Kilcrohane village,
with Dunmanus Bay beyond.

Easy does it!

This Peakeen #57 was one of a few way-markers we passed on our short Seefin walk, a part
of a much longer trek. There are many walking choices in this beautiful part of Ireland.
That's Dunmanus Bay in the background.

Twenty-second video taken high up by Seefin on the Sheep's

Head Peninsula. It starts with a view down to Dunmanus Bay

 on the right, then a sweep over the land

 to Bantry Bay on your left.

Arundel's By The Pier. By the way, it is a very short distance from the pier.
If you are coming from the pier, they have parking on your right (before you pass the pub).
Take a break here, either before or after your Sheep's Head "stroll". By the way, a nearby pub, the Tin Pub,
is equally popular if the number of cars parked outside each is a guide.

This hake and chips was excellent, after a long wait. Had been expecting to see more fresh fish on the Arundel's menu. They did have smoked salmon and two variations of mussel dishes, no other fish.
There is a green grassy area with a few tables (same type as in the pic above) across the road, but in answer to a few queries from incoming customers, they said they couldn't serve people there. We walked over after lunch and found just one other couple there, and they were more intent on sunbathing. 

The pier by Arundel's

Also on this trip:

Mizen Head

Garinish Island

Schull Harbour Hotel

Sheep's Head Peninsula

An Evening in support of UNICEF's Children of Gaza Appeal at Rare Restaurant, Kinsale

 An Evening in support of UNICEF's 

Children of Gaza Appeal at Rare Restaurant, Kinsale

Chef Meeran Manzoor

On July 31st, Rare at Blue Haven will host a fundraising event for UNICEF Ireland’s Children of Gaza Appeal

Meeran Manzoor, Executive Chef,  and his team at Rare will host a special evening in Kinsale on July 31st, with all proceeds from the night donated directly to UNICEF Ireland’s Children of Gaza Appeal. It’s a unique opportunity for guests to revisit Rare or experience the Michelin Guide-recognised restaurant for the first time, all in support of a worthy cause.

Meeran Manzoor, Executive Head Chef at Rare at Blue Haven, said, “We are really looking forward to welcoming guests for this dinner seating as it's a night to enjoy a thoughtfully curated dining experience by our team at Rare while giving back. Every cent of the evening's proceeds from food will go directly to UNICEF Ireland's Children of Gaza Appeal. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this vital cause.”

Guests will enjoy the seasonal tasting menu curated by Meeran and his team, showcasing the finest West Cork produce. The menu reflects Meeran’s signature style, a thoughtful blend of South Indian heritage and European culinary technique, expressed through hyper-local dishes crafted from the finest peak-season ingredients.

Guests can book from 5:30 pm to 7:45 pm on July 31st to support the fundraising evening. Booking can be made via www.rare1784.ie or by calling 021 4772 209.

Rare at The Blue Haven is located in The Blue Haven Collection, Pearse Street, Kinsale, Co Cork,

P17 NA72. Keep up to date with the latest news by following Rare on social at @rarekinsale

media release

Cocktail ace Joe Timbrell announced as new General Manager at Elbow Lane

Cocktail ace Joe Timbrell announced as new General Manager at Elbow Lane.

Timbrell, 34, from Innishannon, West Cork, has been with the business for 8 years and has worked his way up from barman to his current position on this young team. Over the years, he has developed and expanded the restaurant's cocktail list and created Elbow Lane's Amaretto. Called Joe's Amaretto, it took a Silver at the World Spirits Awards last year. (This is the primary ingredient in the restaurant's signature cocktail: 'The Sweet, The Smoked and The Sour'.)


This is one of the experimental new drink developments at Elbow Lane. The brewery also collaborates with local brewers and distillers to develop a host of new beers for its diners such as a gin barrel-brewed beer with Rebel Distillery called Skiddys Sour. In addition, the restaurant also houses a fermentary, which experiments with the by-products of the brewery to create new flavours on the menu.


The restaurant has won a slew of awards, including Best Casual Dining Munster, Best Employer in the Food & Drink industry and Best Restaurant Manager. Critics regularly mention it as one of the top 100 restaurants in Ireland. It is part of the progressive Market Lane Restaurant Group, which also includes Market Lane, goldie, ORSO and The Blackrock Castle Cafe.




"I am really looking forward to working with the fabulous team here at Elbow Lane to create memorable food experiences for our guests," says Timbrell. "I would like to build on the strong foundations laid down by my predecessors to provide top quality local produce and excellent service sustainably and to keep bringing new and interesting flavours to the people of Cork and beyond".


For further information, click on www.elbowlane.ie

Mizen Head. Two faces, one foggy, one sunny, of Ireland's most south-westerly point.

Mizen Head. Two faces in one day, foggy, sunny, 

of Ireland's most south-westerly point.

Dunlough Bay

You are here!

Mizen Head, traditionally regarded as the most southerly point of mainland Ireland, had two faces for us last Tuesday morning. We’ve experienced all kinds of weather during our regular visits over the years, from scorching sunshine and pounding seas and now the fog. 

On arrival, we thought we wouldn’t be able to see anything due to the deep fog. But by the time we had read our way through the various exhibitions, that fog had begun to shift, and the sun was starting to show. In any weather, perched on the edge of the Atlantic, Mizen Head is one of the most spectacular headlands on Ireland’s seaboard. 

On arriving at Mizen, you'll find a pretty large car park with some great views (normally!) over the ocean. The entrance hall, including the ticket office and some exhibitions, is straight ahead. Here also, you find a café, shop and bathrooms. The indoor exhibitions, both by the entrance and down at the point, are fascinating. 

Foggy morning

Once you come out in the open, you have a range of cliff paths ahead of you. Perhaps the main one is more or less straight to the impressive footbridge. You may be fit enough to do all the pathways, but do try to get up to the amazing viewpoints over Dunlough Bay.

The story of the Fastnet Lighthouse is well told at Mizen, as in this illustration.

In any case, you must not miss a stroll over that footbridge where you may well see seals far below. Continue straight ahead to the old signalling station, now a museum open to visitors. Quite a few more interesting displays here, including the lightkeeper at breakfast (though he hasn’t touched a bite since I was here last!

As many of you know, the 40th anniversary  of the Air India bombing was marked recently at the memorial park in nearby Ahakista.  Three hundred and twenty-nine people (208 of them Canadian) were murdered when the plane exploded off the West Cork coast.

But that wasn't the area's first disaster involving Canadians. I found this info on one of the many info panels at Mizen. 

"HMHS Liandovery Castle, built in 1914 in Glasgow as RMS Llandovery Castle for the Union-Castle Line, was one of five Canadian hospital ships that served in the First World War. On a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England, the ship was torpedoed off southern Ireland, about 116 miles southwest of Fastnet on 27 June 1918. 

The sinking was the deadliest Canadian naval disaster of the war. 234 doctors, nurses, members of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, soldiers and seamen died in the sinking and subsequent machine-gunning of lifeboats. Only 24 people, the occupants on a single life-raft, survived. The incident became infamous internationally and was considered, after the Armenian genocide, as one of the war's worst atrocities. After the war, the case of Llandovery Castle was one of six alleged German war crimes prosecuted at the Leipzig trials."

No fog now!

The nearby village of Crookhaven has had a distinguished history as the first and last port of call for ships going between Northern European ports and America. Over the centuries, ships stocked up here with provisions and bunkered. This drew radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi to the West Cork village in the early 1900s, and he guided subsequent communications developments that made sea traffic more efficient and safer. Read more in Mizenhead.ie There is still a property in the village called Marconi House. 

Bovine Balance. On the edge!

After spending 90 to 120 minutes walking around the spectacular paths, why not drop into the Mizen Café, which offers a range of snacks, hot and cold drinks, and home-made treats including:

• Teas, coffee and hot chocolate
• Cold juices and soft drinks
• A variety of home baked produce, including cakes, brown bread, apple tart and more...
• Homemade soup and that West Cork favourite, seafood chowder
• Local mussels and fresh fish and chips
• A selection of freshly made sandwiches
• Whipped ice-cream cones, perfect for cooling down on a warm day

As I drove down (R585). from Crookstown, the amount of flora growing on the roadside was
eye-catching. Early on, there were plenty of wild roses and more and more fuchia, meadowsweet
 also,  the further west I travelled. The area around Mizen, including Barleycove, has quite an
amount of flora, including some rare ones. This Sea Plantain is quite common on Mizen.

Short video Dunlough Bay

Also on this trip:

Mizen Head

Garinish Island

Schull Harbour Hotel

Sheep's Head Peninsula

Bar of the Year 2025 Finalists

press release

Bar of the Year 2025 Finalists

The Bar of the Year Awards 2025 has received over 1000 entries, making it the most competitive year yet. After intense deliberations, only the finest bars have been selected as finalists. The event will take place on Monday, 18th August 2025, at the prestigious Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road. If you're a finalist, you are encouraged to promote the voting form across your social media channels and websites to rally support and increase your chances of winning. Let the campaign begin!

5 STAR HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored By London Essence 1757 at Mount Juliet Estate, Co. Kilkenny no27 Bar & Lounge, The Shelbourne Hotel, Co. Dublin Prince of Wales Bar at Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo The Guinness Bar at Cashel Palace Hotel, Co. Tipperary The Lounge at The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Co. Dublin The Rooftop Bar & Terrace, Marker Hotel, Co. Dublin The Savoy Hotel, Co. Limerick The Sidecar, Westbury, Co. Dublin

BAR FOOD OF THE YEAR

Sponsored By Coca Cola Bar Square, Co. Mayo Blake's Bar Galway, Co. Galway Durty Nellys, Co. Clare Gearys BAR, Co. Cork Gertie Brownes Bar and Bistro, Co. Westmeath Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa,

Garinish Island. Glengarrif's Precious Gem

Garinish Island. Glengarrif’s Precious Gem

Leaving the Blue Pool for the island.

Garinish Island, officially known as Ilnacullin, and often spoken of as Garnish Island, is a small island of rare beauty, nestled in the sheltered coastal harbour at Glengarriff in Bantry Bay and nowadays in the hands of the OPW. 

In the Italian Garden

We were lucky with the weather last week and made it our first port of call on the opening day of our short stay, using the Schull Harbour Hotel as our base. As usual, we headed for the Blue Pool from which the eponymous ferry company operates. Unusually, the ferry does not take credit cards, while the island entry point does.

The Temple

The boat took us close to Seal Island on our way out, and there were all sizes of seals lounging in the sun. Soon, we landed at Garinish and paid the nominal entry fee. There is also a little café here selling soup, scones, rolls, cakes, coffee, teas, hot chocolate and cold drinks.

Italian Garden

There is a recommended route, but don’t worry if you take a wrong turn, as you’ll soon find your way. It is not very big. The big attraction is the Italian Garden, its beautiful little building, ornamental pool, lawn and walled garden so pleasing to the eye.

Caha Mountains in the distance

Not all the walking is so easy, though. There are many steps up to the Martello tower, but do persevere as the views are stunning. There is also a designated viewpoint nearby if you don’t feel like taking the narrow internal staircase to the top of the tower.

English Border in Walled Garden

From the tower, head down to the Happy Valley and the Jungle (which has many imported trees and shrubs, some from South America, New Zealand and China, almost as international as the mix of tourists that know visit the beautiful place).

Casita Lawn

Be sure also to visit the popular temple, reached via an avenue of Italian cypress and giving superb views out to the sea and the Caha Mountains.

As I said, the island is quite small and you won't get lost. Probably best to buy the Visitors Guide (Ilnacullin, by the OPW at the entry office) and, if you follow this, you’ll enjoy your visit even more.

Having enjoyed our time there, we headed to the little harbour and soon our Blue Ferry boat arrived to take us back after a delightful 90 minutes or so in the shade and the sun.

Also on this trip:

Mizen Head

Garinish Island

Schull Harbour Hotel

Sheep's Head Peninsula

Taste of Sligo Food Festival set for September success

Taste of Sligo Food Festival set for September success

Pictured at the launch of Taste of Sligo Food Festival 2025 were (from left):
Back: James Ward (Lough Gill Brewery), Therese Maher (Fáilte Ireland), Gerard Moore (Sligo Park Hotel and Destination Sligo Forum)
Front: Funké Egberongbe (Funké Restaurant), Rebecca Sweeney (Hooked), Anthony Gray (Taste of Sligo Food Tours, Eala Bhán and Hooked).

 

Friday 19^th – Sunday 21^st September 2025

 

After an outstandingly successful event in their first year, the Taste of Sligo Food Festival has announced a stellar line up for the 2025 festival which now extends to three days. Running from Friday 19^th to Sunday 21^st September the annual celebration of food, which is the brainchild of local food hero Anthony Gray, brings top chefs and food producers to Queen Maeve Square in the heart of Sligo town. It's all about the atmosphere and a winning combination of cookery demonstrations, al fresco dining, live music and kids’ entertainment as well as dozens of artisan food stalls and food trucks it adds up to a superb experience for foodies of all ages. It’s an additional draw, bringing tourists to Sligo for a foodie weekend.

 

“The Taste of Sligo Food Festival highlights the rich food culture and incredible food tourism experience in Sligo”, explains Anthony Gray of Eala Bhán and Hooked restaurants, Taste of Sligo Food Trails and a founding member of Sligo Food Trail, “It showcases everything that’s good about food in this county and brings in top chefs from around the country. Last year was amazing and it’s going to be even better in 2025”.

Professional cookery demonstrations include celebrity chefs Kevin Dundon, Shane Smith and Sham Hanifa with well-known MC Tracie Daly of Ballymaloe fame. Also starring on the demo stage are award winning local Sligo Food Trail members Alan Fitzmaurice (The Glasshouse Hotel), Becca Sweeney (Hooked), Rafal Chimiak (Eala Bhán), Anthony Gray (Wild Atlantic Way), Aisling Kelly (Sligo Oyster Experience), Afro Caribbean cooking sensation Funké Egberongbe (Funké Restaurant) and Dr Prannie Rhatigan as part of the Spanish Armada Ireland weekend. Sarah Browne (Oysome) is a new local face on the demonstration stage. 

 

Stands include a fabulous cross-section of producers with lots of artisan produce to bring home and enjoy on the day. Mammy Johnson’s have all the home made ice-cream flavours you can imagine. Drinks are well represented too with Lough Gill Craft Beer catering for craft beer lovers and the Drumshanbo Gin Bar offering delicious options. 

 

New this year is the Cool Food School with cookery workshops for 5th and 6th class students. Presented by BTEC-qualified Health Coach Deirdre, the mission is to teach children of all ages about the joys of healthy eating. Workshops will be held before the festival opens on Friday in Eala Bhán. 

For 2025 a third day has been added due to popular demand and the festival begins this year on Friday 19^th September with a tapas-style event running from 4.30 to 9pm. Festival hours on Saturday 20^th September are 12-8pm and on Sunday 21^st September 12-9pm. Large crowds are expected and advance booking is advised.

 

The Taste of Sligo Food Festival is supported by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF), Sligo BID, Sligo Food Trail, Visit Sligo, Sligo County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Wild Atlantic Way and Sligo Chamber of Commerce, Whitesides SuperValu, Expert Electrical and Hawks Rock Distillery. 

 

The easiest way to get festival tickets is to book in advance through Eventbrite. The cost is €10 per day or €15 for an early bird three day-ticket (before 31^st July). The standard three-day ticket price is €20. Under-12s get free admission with an adult.

media release

O'Mahony's. Happy Place on The Hill

 O'Mahony's. Happy Place on The Hill

Rhubarb & Custard

O’Mahony’s is one happy place. It begins with big, wide smiles as you walk in from the Watergrasshill street for lunch. Or dinner. Or just a drink. Perhaps one of John Coleman's cocktails (his creations are not "just a drink"). And the smiles continue through the service and also as you make your totally relaxed exit.

A Head of the Pack.
Original 7
Revolution IPA

Happy. And hoppy too. Great to go into a bar and see a little line of local craft beers beckon. Last week, I spotted Eight Degrees, Blacks of Kinsale and Original 7 taps. Happy, hoppy. Hippy too. If hippy retains its original meaning of tolerance, community and unconventional, well, you’ll find that here too.  

Last Thursday, the diners included singles, couples, strapping young men (no less than six together) and a family (nine in all), and an old lad (not me!) sitting at the bar and enjoying his drink and the banter. Quite a mix of generations that, along with the place itself, reminds me of one of my favourite books of recent years, Still Life by Sarah Winman.

I did enjoy my drink, a cool pint of Original 7’s Revolution IPA. No shortage of hops but well controlled and this flavoursome, well-balanced ale goes straight into our expanding list of top Irish beers. See the top ten here. 

Ragu. Another gem from Chef Mark Ahern.

The lunch menu features a list of small plates, positioned somewhere in between the usual lunch plate and a full dinner, though you can of course “reinforce” it with one of their sides or perhaps by starting with a helping of Rossmore Oysters from East Cork. And the support of local producers is another element, a very attractive one, in O’Mahony’s superb menu. 

You’ll see many of them listed on the menu, a menu that beautifully, in relatively simple strokes, evokes the countryside around us, its freshness and its seasons. Perhaps it also evokes the flavours and goodness of the past, before the race to mass produce began and before we damaged the land and the sea, not to mention ourselves and our children, with all those double-edged 'cides (insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides...).

One featured producer is local pig farmer Peter Twomey, from Upper Glanmire, whose name caught my eye as I was tempted by Glenbrook Farm pork ragout, pappardelle, rocket, pangrattato, smoked Gubbeen. Peter’s free-range meat is outstanding and enhanced further with its accompaniments here, and it gets a mighty thumbs up. 

Bacon & Cabbage

Just in case you’re wondering - I was - ragout is French, while the Italians spell it ragu. Bella Napoli in French Church Street serves a couple of excellent dishes (each featuring slow-cooked beef), including a favourite of mine, Ragu Alla Genovese, but Ragu Alla Glanmire is up there with the best! As I write this, I'm looking forward to a 12-hour Lamb and Tomato Ragu in the Harbour Hotel (Schull) tomorrow night.  (Watch this space!)

CL chose the Bacon & Cabbage Croquettes, Tomato & Raisin Chutney, and Cais na Tire, another well-sourced, well-cooked, and well-presented dish that charms for all the right reasons (a bit like O'Mahony's itself). We “supplemented” our dishes with a shared bowl of their Home Cut Fries and a delicious caramelised onion aioli. Other sides here include Kilbrack mixed leaves, citrus and herb dressing, and Cumin roasted carrots with sour cream.

A recent dish. Torched mackerel, yoghurt, stewed rhubarb, broadbean and green peppercorn dressing, lovage oil. O'Mahony's pic.

And there would be a sweet ending. The dessert list is short but definitely worth a look. We agreed on the Rhubarb & Custard, with a delicious almond crumble. Other choices included a Double chocolate brownie with Freezin' Friesan vanilla ice cream and, an Irish cheese plate, accompanied by crackers and Watergrasshill Apiary Honey.

Time then for more smiles (we hadn’t stopped) as we made our way out of the lively and more or less full room, saying goodbye to our hosts Máire O’Mahony and Victor Murphy. A bientot!