Dinner for Billy👑 and Clare👑 at the Royal Hotel Valentia

 Dinner for Billy👑 and Clare👑

at the Royal Hotel Valentia

Since 1833, then known as the Valentia Hotel, the island’s hotel has been welcoming and extending hospitality to guests. It later became known as Young's Hotel and it wasn't until after a visit from Prince Arthur (the son of Queen Victoria) in 1869 that it took the name ‘Royal'.

No royalty there in the closing days of April 2023 when we visited for dinner. We were staying nearby but the hotel could well have been our base. It is so convenient, just yards from where the car ferry from Cahersiveen lands, and is the gateway to the island and its many attractions: its scenic walks, the ancient Tetrapod Trackway, the historic slate quarry and the lighthouse (where you may visit). The Royal even offers a package for Kerry’s Internationally Recognised Dark Sky Reserve.

It has recently renovated 33 rooms. It can cater for any social event from weddings to a hearty lunch for two. We were there for dinner for two and were treated quite royally, like every other customer. They have a very friendly and efficient staff here in the large restaurant that looks right out onto the water, so near that a Great Black-backed Gull popped up on our window sill to have a look at my plate, I think he was a regular! 

So what did we have? The menu is along the usual lines that you see in Kerry (and many other Irish) pubs and sometimes you have to look at the specials list to get away from the Seafood Chowder, Chicken Wings, Fish and Chips and Burgers that populate these offerings. Not that there is anything wrong with them, as we were to find out. 

Goats cheese starter

I had an excellent Chowder (Mixed smoked fish and white fish with vegetables in a velouté sauce served with soda bread) here, as I did in The Lobster in Waterville.

CL picked the Goats Cheese Bruschetta with Red Currant Jelly (topped with onion chutney & served with fresh mixed salad). She was delighted with it, reckoning that it was well ahead of a similar dish in The Lobster.

In addition to the regular dishes, they also have a Kids Menu and offer a selection of pizzas, all handy if you are travelling with younger people.

Up to about ten years ago, it was almost impossible to get craft beer in Kerry. But, with at least five breweries in the county, all that has changed. Has it changed in the venerable Royal? Yes indeed it has and they know the difference between real craft and mass produced stuff. The server unhesitatingly says she has Killarney Blond on tap and we, unhesitatingly, say yes we’ll have one each. It was just after they arrived on the table that the gull popped up, so perhaps he just wanted a drink!

Back to the food and my  Crispy Battered Scampi (Prawns in homemade beer batter, served with homemade potato wedges with side salad and tartar sauce) had just arrived. Don’t know when I last had them but they certainly went down well even if I got fries rather than wedges. Nicely cooked, good quality and no lack of quantity either.

Knightstown
Clock Tower

We were totally ignoring the specials here (they included a couple of roasts of the day, beef and pork) and CL decided to go for a burger, a rare occasion. She too got a massive plateful, Beef Burger with Bacon & Cheese (Hereford Irish ground beef patty in a toasted brioche bun - dressed with Marie Rose sauce, lettuce, tomato, onions, melted cheddar cheese & bacon. Served with homemade potato wedges, homemade onion rings & relish). Phew. A classy burger though, again fries rather than wedges, and she just about got through it!

No room at all for desserts after those packed plates but we did enjoy a second round of the Blonde before strolling back to the B&B to take a look at the sun (which had only just made its first appearance of the day, a brief one) as it set beyond the lighthouse, the whole scene visible from our balcony. That was the special of the day!

Also on this trip:

The Lobster Waterville

Skellig Experience Centre - The Monks Dinner

McGill Brewery*

Royal Hotel, Knightstown

A Right Royal Progress Through The Kingdom

* Post to follow

Recent Kerry posts

Killarney's lovely Victoria Hotel

Dinner at The Ivy in Killarney

Dining at The Harrow Killarney

Excellent Lunch at Brehon Hotel

Seeing Red at the lovely Sneem Hotel

Lunch at Killarney Brewery & Distillery in Fossa.

Dingle Drive, Slea Head and more 

 

Looking for a unique dining experience? Here's something different.

Looking for a unique dining experience? 

Here's something different.

Soprano Abigail LaDuke pictured at launch in Waterford Whisky distillery 

The upcoming Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in Waterford and Cork has some beautiful fine dining options at the festival and the concerts. The organisers have partnered with Eunice Power to offer a Formal Dining Menu; and with Eamo & Ró for a choice of 3 Gourmet Table Picnics  – available at Lismore Castle, and for concerts at Dromore Yard.   

 

THE MACBETH MENU by EUNICE POWER

Eunice Power’s fantastic pre-opera dinner menus for 2023 – The Macbeth Menu and The Macbeth Menu (Vegan), will be served in luxurious, stretch tents within the beautiful grounds of Lismore Castle. 

 

Gourmet Table Picnic Dining with Eamo & Ró 

Choose from The Gustoso Picnic 1, The Elegante Picnic 2, or The Vegano Picnic 3 

 

Bring Your Own Picnic (BYOP)

People are also very welcome to bring their own picnic before the concert, and book a spot in one of the outhouses at Dromore Yard with seats and chairs, so they can picnic in comfort. Limited seating so they will need to book in advance. A selection of fine wines and champagne will be available from the bar. Any pre-paid orders made online will be served to them  – ready for their arrival and chilled as appropriate.

 

Lunchtime recital packages

There will also be some new lunchtime recital packages in partnership with selected local restaurants, supporting local suppliers.

 

Chorus Recital Villierstown Church 2022 festival

 

 

Here is some general information on the festival.

 

Verdi’s Macbeth masterpiece among impressive line-up at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

 

~ The 2023 festival at Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan and Fermoy features an inspiring creative team, 103 international and Irish performers, 21 events, 12 venues, 4,500 visitors, 2,500 students, and 98 volunteers ~

 

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF), Ireland's Summer Opera, is returning for eight magical days from 29^th May to 5^th June with an impressive programme of 21 events at 12 stunning venues, with everything from big tickets to free tickets.

 

More than 4,500 visitors are expected to attend the world renowned, unique, and inclusive opera and classical music week, which is now in its 13th year.  The festival attracts top talent and will welcome 103 international and Irish artists, present 65+ hours of music, and deliver education outreach to an estimated 2,500 local students.  And it all happens thanks to the support of 98 volunteers, 100 Friends of BVOF, and 25 sponsors, funders, and partners.   

 

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has announced a ground-breaking new production of Verdi’s Macbeth, conducted by Killian Farrell, directed by Sarah Baxter and in artistic collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, as the headline event at Lismore Castle Waterford on 31 May, 2, 3 and 4 June.

 

The first genuine masterpiece of Giuseppe Verdi’s career - and first of his three Shakespearean operas - Macbeth is a political thriller full of intrigues, murders, and passion. Verdi created this stunning musical portrait of opera’s most power-hungry couple with wonderful, unforgettable arias. 

It stars the legendary baritones Leonardo Galeazzi and Vittorio Vitelli, alternating as Macbeth; Serenad Burcu Uyar as the fiendish Lady Macbeth, and world-renowned bass Gorán Jurich as Banco. The supporting cast includes BVOF bursary winners John Porter and Rory Dunne; Emily Hogarty, Andrew Gavin and the Blackwater Valley Opera Chorus. 

2023 concert highlights at the architecturally quirky Dromore Yard – a romantic, semi-restored 19^th century farm yard on the banks of the River Blackwater - will feature English tenor Ian Bostridge accompanied by pianist Saskia Giorgini; cellist Nadège Rochat and pianist Judith Jáuregui; and Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy along with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Peter Whelan will close out the festival on June Bank Holiday Monday.

from 2022 Festival

 

The festival recital series will feature a variety of beautiful programmes in the magical surrounds of Woodhouse Estate, Salterbridge House, Tourin House St Carthage’s Cathedral, Villierstown Church, St Mary’s Collegiate Church, and Villierstown Church.

 

There will be four free open-air recitals delivering the magic of Ireland’s summer opera festival to Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan and Fermoy. These popular open air lunchtime recitals are available for local communities and must be booked in advance on the BVOF website to secure a seat.

 

The popular education outreach Discover Singing and Discover Opera programmes return for local national school children, in conjunction with Music Generation Waterford. The Opera Dress Rehearsal for second-level students on Monday 29 May is where hundreds of students and their teachers will get to experience a full scale opera production, completely free of charge.

 

Luxury shopping destination Kildare Village is the Fashion Retail sponsor of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival for 2023, and the award-winning Waterford Whisky distillery has just been announced as the new Hospitality Partner of the festival.  Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is supported by grants from the Arts Council, Waterford City & County Council, and Fáilte Ireland. The festival’s lead sponsors are Kildare Village, Marsh, AIB and the John Pollard Foundation.

Commenting on the festival, Brian O’Flynn, Head of Ireland’s Ancient East said, “This spectacular arts and culture summer opera festival has developed its own distinctive voice within the opera and classical music world, bringing fresh vision and focus to Waterford tourism and Ireland’s Ancient East.”

 

Eamonn Carroll, Festival Director of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, said, “We’re looking forward to welcoming festival attendees from near and far for what will be a week of stunning performances with incredible talent from Ireland and around the world.  Whether you love opera and classical music or just want a unique live music experience, there’s something for everyone.”

 

“Blackwater Valley Opera Festival was honoured to be nominated in three categories at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2023 (Best Opera, Best Set, Best Movement) for Orfeo ed Euridice in 2022, and I would like to sincerely congratulate David Bolger for winning Best Movement Direction for the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival production of Orfeo ed Euridice and Go to Blazes with Coiscéim Dance.  We’re hoping for another award-winning year ahead with the stunning Macbeth production.”

 

The Big Tickets (Opera)

Macbeth- 31 May, 2, 3, 4 June

Tickets €75-220. Lismore Castle Waterford

 

The Dromore Yard Concerts

Ian Bostridge and Saskia Giorgini – Thurs 1 June

Nadège Rochat and Judith Jáuregui – Sun 4 June

Paula Murrihy with the Irish Baroque Orchestra &  Peter Whelan – Mon 5 June

Tickets €25-60. Dromore Yard, Aglish, Co. Waterford

 

Recitals for The Classical Music Lovers 

From 29 May – 5 June 2023

Artists include Amy Gillen, Kelli-Ann Masterson, Niall Kinsella, Mairead Hurley, Abigail LaDuke, Ella Nagy, Frasier Hickland, Megan O’Neill, Amy Ní Fhearraigh,  BVOF Chorus.

Venues in Youghal, Fermoy, Lismore, Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Villierstown.

Tickets €25 / €10 Concessions / Limited Free Tickets 

 

The 2023 Free Shows

BVOF Free Open-Air Lunchtime Recitals – Fermoy, Youghal, Lismore, Dungarvan

30 May, 2, 3, 4 June Tickets FREE. Booking essential to secure seating.  

Lismore Castle Waterford

 

For The Foodie Lovers

The Macbeth Menu by Eunice Power - 31 May, 2, 3, 4 June

Tickets €55- €75 Lismore Castle Waterford

 

Gourmet Table Picnics by Eamo & Ró - 31 May, 2, 3, 4 June

Tickets €55 Lismore Castle Waterford

 

Gourmet Table Picnics by Eamo & Ró - 1, 4, 5 June

Tickets €55 Dromore Yard, Aglish, Co. Waterford

 

Lunchtime Recital Packages (2 Course Menu & Recital Ticket)

1 June – The Saucy Hen, Villierstown Tickets €30 

2 June – Barron’s Coffeehouse Cappoquin Tickets €30 

3 June – Fuller’s Bistro Lismore Tickets €30 

 

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is supported by grants from the Arts Council, Waterford City & County Council, Waterford Leader and Fáilte Ireland. 

To discover more about BVOF’s eight days of opera, classical music recitals and concerts, schools programme, free events, dining experiences and more, visit blackwatervalleyopera.ie.

 

 

Drinking through Portugal wine regions with a Fonte do Ouro Tinto Dão. Part 11.

Drinking through Portugal wine regions 

with a Fonte do Ouro Tinto Dão. 

Part IV (Vinho Verde, Lisboa and Alentejano).

Part III (Alentejo) 

Part 11 (Douro, Dão, Alentejo and Setubal.)  

Part 1 (Minho) 

Foot Trodden (2021), a recent book on Portuguese wine, covers these eight regions: Minho, Douro, Dão, Bairrada, Colares, Ribatejo, Alentejo and Madeira (home of one of the most age-worthy wines). Other regions noted are Algarve, Setubal, Beiras Interior, Tránsmontano, Bucelas, VR Lisbon and Carcavelos. This is the start of an occasional focus on Portugal over the next month or two and I’ll try to get my hands on as many of the wines as I can. Any tips or help will be most welcome!

Fonte do Ouro Tinto Dão (DOC) 2020, 13.5% ABV, €17.25, O'Briens Wine 

Like many Portuguese wines, this is a blend. All three grapes used are popular in the region. The Alfrocheiro adds depth of colour, Touriga Nacional (with its expressive violet scent) is considered to be the country’s finest, while Jaen is the local name for the what the Spanish call Mencía. By the way, Touriga Nacional probably started “life” in the Dão, mostly a granite plateau with the eponymous river running through it.

Importers and distributors O’Brien’s: A delicious red, showcasing the quality of winemaking in the Dão region of Portugal. Aged for 6 months in French oak it is a blend of indigenous grapes: primarily Touriga Nacional. 

Dão is one of the oldest established wine regions of Portugal, located just south of the famous Douro Valley. The mountainous region is home to Touriga Nacional, the principle variety of port wine, and only became a DOC in 1990.

The region’s wine industry, for so long shackled by the dictator Salazar’s imposed cooperative system that rewarded quantity over quality, certainly needed the improvement in quality which has taken place in the last 30 years or so.

Ironically, Salazar himself had vines in the wild and rugged regiona and a string of coops were set up but the emphasis was always on quantity not quality. Even though Salazar departed in 1968 and the Carnation Revolution of six years later finally ended the influence of his policies and those of his like-minded successors, the Däo was in the doldrums until well into the 1990s when EU policy and its monetary help provided the kiss of life and the area began to put its reputation for producing what Jancis Robinson termed “some of the…. most uncharming wines in the world” behind it.

The top Dão wines are now some of the most highly rated in Europe, winning consistent praise on both sides of the Atlantic, says wine-searcher.com. “It is in the north of the country. It takes its name from the Dão river, along which the majority of the region's vineyards are located.” More praise from the World Atlas of Wine saying they are now “..far juicier, friendlier, more elegant wines”.

A government study in 2017 listed no fewer than 230 indigenous varieties in Portugal and, according to the marvellous Foot Trodden, there are many many more yet to be identified. No wonder there are so many blends in the country.

Our blend has a dark ruby colour. Fairly rich aromas of blackberry, dark cherry and plum. There’s a great mix of the fruit flavours on the palate, with a touch of spice, smooth with elegant tannins and a very satisfying and persistent finish. This supple and fresh wine, full of vitality, has spent six months in oak and should be served at 16 to 18 degrees and will go well with red meats. 

Full of Dão character and Very Highly Recommended as is the book Foot Trodden!.

Sociedade Agrícola Boas Quintas, born in 1991, was part of the revival. It all began when Nuno Cancela de Abreu, representative of the 4th generation of a family with farming and winemaking tradition of more than 130 years, decided to devote all of his experience and all of his knowledge in viticulture and oenology, to the service of the project that would allow him to create high quality wines, full of character and personality. See more here.

Boas Quintas also make an excellent Fonte do Ouro white, a blend of Arinto and Encruzado, more details here.  

My Favourite Festival Returns for 2023: Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival, a feast for foodies and fun for all.

A 2023 feast for foodies as 

Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival returns  

Dancers Paul Hogan and Mae Kiely add some jazz to their step as they celebrate the return of the ‘Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival 2023

Amazing summer day of food, live music, and activities for all the family!

West Cork’s renowned annual street carnival returns to Clonakilty on Saturday 17 June 2023 after a four-year break due to Covid restrictions.

Since its inception in 2016, the Clonakilty Street Carnival has seen huge crowds flock to the multi- award-winning sea-side town. The colourful main streets are transformed into a foodie haven of culinary delights, and first-class dining is catered for by local restaurants and an array of excellent artisan producers.

The Carnival is delighted to announce Irish Yogurts Clonakilty as their main sponsor again for this year’s event, an award-winning family-run company based in Clonakilty since 1994.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Managing Director at Irish Yogurts Clonakilty said; “We’re excited to be involved once again in supporting the wonderful Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival. It’s a highly anticipated social event in the town’s diary, and we are absolutely thrilled it’s returning this year after being so sorely missed. It’s sure to be an exciting day out and we can’t wait for all the festivities to begin again.”

This year’s event will be officially opened by renowned chef Eunice Power, a regular on the RTE One Today Show where she hosts live cooking demonstrations of her delicious recipes in the studio. Eunice Power Catering is one of Ireland’s leading gourmet event caterers, offering first-class food made from scratch with the very best seasonal ingredients. As well, she owns an award-winning restaurant AndChips located in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Eunice Power said, “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be opening the Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival on Saturday 17th of June. This is such an important event for Clonakilty, where a spotlight will shine on all the wonderful local producers, chefs and businesses. I understand the commitment and hard work that communities put into these events, and I am looking forward to spending this wonderful day with the Clonakilty community."

The gastronomic day out promises a unique dining experience unlike any other! Rows of tables will line decorated streets to create Clonakilty’s longest dinner party, as thousands of diners get to feast on mouthwatering dishes from street food stalls by the town’s top restaurants, with meal tickets priced at €18 for adults and €7.50 for children.

Headline acts throughout the day will keep audiences dazzled with live music, activities, and dizzying carnival style antics. The popular Family Fun Zone will return with hosted activities and street entertainment including bouncy castles, giant games, face-painting, and an enclosed area to keep the smallies amused, as well as a sensory play area as part of Clonakilty’s continued commitment to being an autism friendly town.

Kevin O’Regan, an organiser of the Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival said; “We’re excited to be back and we’re hugely grateful to all our contributors, sponsors, and volunteers. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to create such a magical and memorable experience for locals and visitors to the Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival. Clonakilty is a thriving town and a top-class food destination, and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase again the wonderful talents of our local food producers, businesses, and hospitality to everyone who comes to visit us on the day.”

The Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival dinner places are ticketed so to avoid disappointment please reserve your meal tickets in advance. Tickets include adult and children’s meals with meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan meal options, including drinks and desserts. All other festivities and event activities are FREE and accessible to all throughout the day as the town will be fully pedestrianised from 9am-6pm and open for business.

To keep up to date with the Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival news and full schedule please follow @Clonakiltystreetcarnival on Facebook or visit www.clonakilty.ie / Instagram @Clonakilty.ie

Tickets can be purchased here: https://buytickets.at/clonakiltychamberofcommerce Or use the smaller link here:
https://tinyurl.com/bdfbwbjk Booking fee applies.

press release

360 Town Stay Excellent Base For West Waterford Trip

 360 Town Stay Excellent Base 

For West Waterford Trip

Baker's Table in Lismore

In the heart of Dungarvan town, 360 Town Stay offer a selection of studios and apartments. We stayed in one of the apartments during a recent mini-tour of the West Waterford area. Even though we didn’t meet a single human at 360 - everything is done online or via code - it worked out very well indeed.

The 360 house is entered from the large car park St Augustine’s/Scanlon’s Yard in the town centre, perhaps not the most promising of entrances on a dull day. Used our code to get the key from the black box and made our way up some fifty steps (not as difficult as it sounds).

360 front entrance

The apartment is spacious and comfortable. An average sized bedroom and separate bathroom had all we needed. Then we were into the living space. Sofas and armchairs to relax in if we wanted to watch the large TV (we didn’t, even though it had Netflix).

Mount Congreve, with the Suir in background

Around the corner was the kitchen with fridge/freezer and cooker and lots more besides, and in another space was a fine dining table and chairs. You could easily stay here for a couple of days. And they also have a restaurant nearby. Check it all out for yourself here. We made good use of it before we had to depart, using that code again to put our key back. Still no human!

Our mini-tour had started with a visit to Mount Congreve Gardens which is of course nearer to Waterford city than Dungarvan. The house and gardens, café also, are well worth a trip, particular now that they are so much improved following a seven million euro re-furb. See post link below.

That evening, we had the most enjoyable meal in The Shamrock, a every short walk from 360. Really good local food and a very friendly atmosphere. All generations seem to dine here. Not fine dining that you get in the Old Bank for instance but good stuff and it is very highly recommended. See post link below.

Petit Fours at Cliff House

At The Local

We did of course have our spot of fine dining and that was a splendid Seafood Tasting Lunch at the Michelin starred Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore. The lunch was part of the West Waterford Festival of Food. It was a spectacular display by Tony Parkin and his team, very enjoyable indeed. See post link below.

After our meal at The Shamrock, we strolled the few yards to the square and ended up in The Local, also newly renovated. And it was busy, mostly with serving food. The willing and smiling staff were on their toes, serving food and drink, even charging mobiles for customer. Besides, they had a selection of the local Dungarvan Brewery beers (in bottle) and here we enjoyed their Mine Head American Pale Ale.

The following morning we were up on the Vee for a fairly early walk. We went up through Cappoquin and then on past Mount Melleray. We more or less had the sunny pass to ourselves and enjoyed the views and got some good photos as well before we headed back down to Lismore for brunch. See post link below.

Mount Melleray

Our venue here was the Baker’s Table. It was sunny but also cold as we strolled to the cafe and went on to enjoy a relaxed and excellent meal. See post link below.

Sunny out but fire on inside at The Bakers, Lismore

Vinilo is another baker in the town and we called in there. They have a table or two inside where they serve coffee and pastry. But they are most busy with customers calling for bread and cakes and also takeout coffees. We bought a sourdough loaf and it was quite a good one as well. 

Vinilo sourdough

So that was about it for this trip to West Waterford, every bit as enjoyable as before. We’ll be back.

On this trip

Mount Congreve, Kilmeaden

The Local, Dungarvan

The Baker's Table of Lismore

Vinilo, Lismore

Marvellous Sunny Morning On The Vee (Waterford/Tipperary)

360 Town Stay, Dungarvan

The Shamrock

Seafood Delights at Cliff House Hotel Festival Lunch