Blarney Castle Gardens
October stroll
(21st October 2024)
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| A juniper bush in the Poison Garden |
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| Autumn colours |
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| Blarney House |
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| Halloween, under the entrance tree |
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| A regular clean-up of the river gives Ester Barrett’s bronze, "Catch", some breathing space |
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| Autumn sunshine |
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| Magnolia fruit |
Taste of the Week
McCabe's India Monsoon Malabar Single Origin Coffee
Vigneti Tardis Fratelli Felix Campania (IGP) 2022, 12.5% ABV
RRP: €19.95. Stockists: 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
New to orange? This is the ideal intro.
You’ll note immediately that this white wine from the south of Italy has a slight orange tint. And it is indeed an “orange” wine, though the colour is not as deep as in many others of the type; the grapes were left to soak on their skins for just two days. Very Highly Recommended.
The blend is
Marina Market Cork
Brunchin the perfect antidote after an early morning medical visit to SIVUH!
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| Buttermilk Chicken Benedict |
After an early Saturday morning medical appointment at SIVUH* on Old Blackrock Road (Cork), it was time for
Kinnegar Limeburner Kölsch Style Pale Ale, 4.7% ABV, 440 ml can Lidl
An enduring favourite for many
Kinnegar’s Limeburner has stood the test of time, even if “Kölsch Style” is a late addition (but accurate) to the label. It comes in a slightly hazy gold colour, the bubbles shimmying
Down by the River Lee.
Saturday morning in Cork City
October 19th, 2024
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| Had no breakfast that morning and looking at this made me hungrier. Luckily, the Marina Market was a few steps behind me. |
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| It was still dark (just before 8.00am) on my way south. You can see the moon high above Patrick's Bridge. Below is the Bus Station at Parnell Place. |
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| Penrose Dock is one of the newest buildings on the quays. |
Osteria Da Mirco, one of the best and most authentic.
Fronted by Cork’s favourite Italian.
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| Tagliere Da Mirco |
Mirco Fondrini is a beloved Italian figure in Cork. He has a strong affinity for the city, including its football club, and maintains close ties with his home region of Valtellina in Northeast Italy. Along with his team of Italian chefs, he showcases this passion at Osteria Da Mirco, widely regarded as one of the finest and most authentic
Purato Nero D’Avola Sicilia (DOC) 2022, 13.5% ABV
€16.00 Bubble Brothers
Green in the extreme. Soft, fruity red from Sicily with impeccable organic credentials
There is no mistaking the Purato range's commitment—certified carbon neutral—to minimising the environmental impact of its excellent everyday wines.
Not only are they made from organically grown grapes, but the bottles, labels, and cartons for the range are, as far as possible, made from recycled
Altano Organic Red Douro (DOC) 2021, 13.5% ABV
€18.95 O’Briens
An appealing little beauty
This organic red wine is a beautiful, well-balanced wine with a deep
Press release
FESTIVE NIGHTS AT CAHERNANE HOUSE HOTEL, KILLARNEY, CO. KERRY
The historic, four-star Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry, invites guests to indulge in a magical escape this festive season. Nestled on its own private grounds just off the Muckross Road and minutes from the breathtaking Killarney National Park and lakes, this elegant country house hotel is the ideal destination for those seeking a cosy and enchanting festive or New Year’s Eve retreat.
SEASONAL PRODUCE INSPIRES NEW AFTERNOON TEA MENU AT
THE METROPOLE HOTEL
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| Teatime at The Met for Pierce Lowney, Director of Food and Beverage at Trigon Hotels and Sandra Murphy, Group Brand and Communications Manager at Trigon Hotels. Pic: Brian Lougheed |
Seasonal and locally grown produce have inspired a new Autumn Afternoon Tea at the Metropole Hotel.
The hotel's team is committed to supporting local suppliers and using
On the craft trail with Eight Degrees, Connemara and Trouble Brewing
Eight Degrees Déjà Vu Hopfenweisse, 7.5% ABV, 440 ml can No 21 Coburg St
Buy-Back Brewers Bounce Back
This Hopfenweisse is the welcome-back shot from the Antipodean founders of Eight Degrees, who had just bought back the brewery. It may be
La Mirande Picpoul De Pinet (AOP) 2023, 13.0% ABV
RRP: €17.35. Stockists: Stockists: 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
A gorgeous, thirst-quenching Picpoul
Chateau de la Mirande, with its vineyard surrounded by garigue, is located in the Languedoc, in an area with a saltwater lagoon dedicated to producing and cultivating oysters and mussels. And this is just the wine to pair with these bivalve molluscs! This stellar example of Picpoul is Very Highly Recommended.
Green harvesting and organic viticulture are part of
