Ice Cream Ireland

The cold snap seems to have finally left us, at least for the moment, but nature really outdid itself over the last weeks. We were lucky enough not to have any flooding or burst pipes, and the roads in Dingle town remained mostly clear of snow and ice.

Reading about the disruption to the rest of the country, and looking at images on the news bore little relation to what I experienced.

We had still, beautiful days, with the water like glass. We had snowy mountains and and an extremely quiet and peaceful Dingle town. We had sunsets more beautiful than I have ever seen, and flocks of birds that descended on us, escaping the cold further North and East.

I don’t know, in the future, how this winter will be remembered. I know there are many who have suffered with the cold, with lack of water, with loss of custom, and with isolation due to closed roads. I, however, luckily protected in this little corner of Ireland and semi-idle this time of year, will remember the stillness, the wet smell of snow, and the amazing sights that came with a different face of nature.

Technorati tags: Dingle, cold, Kerry

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Here’s a video of Wren’s Day in Dingle, yesterday…

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We’ve had a Camphill Community here in Dingle for a few years now, and I wouldn’t be the only one who thinks having such a wonderful place for special needs people here in our midst has made Dingle a better place. Yesterday I went along to their Christmas Shepherd’s Play, and it was heart-warming and a perfect way to get into the spirit of Christmas.

I hope you enjoy the photos above.

Happy Christmas and/or a festive and happy holiday season to all!

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It looks like there might be a possibility that the Friday morning Dingle Farmer’s Market might move, at least for next summer. It used to be on the Tracks, next to the back of Garvey’s Supermarket, but the traders lost access to the site. For the last few months, it’s been held in Dykegate Lane, in what used to be the old whole foods shop, which has the huge benefit of being inside but is a little quiet, according to some of the traders. Perhaps that’s simply because not enough people know it’s there. Recently, Kerry County Council has taken an interest (due to pressure from the Green Party nationally to facilitate farmer’s markets), and they are suggesting a move to the parking lot on Holyground. I hate to see more parking lost, but here’s hoping we find a solution that makes everyone happy!

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It’s been a long, long road road, but the end might be in sight. Yes, five years after Minister Ó Cuiv announced that Dingle didn’t exist, and almost four years after a plebiscite where the town overwhelmingly voted for Dingle/Daingean uí Chúis, it looks like there is some forward motion on the name, seemingly mostly due to Jackie Healey Rae, who insisted on it as part of joining the government. Mind you, supporters of the Dingle/Daingean uí Chúis name have been hopeful on this before and wont really believe it until it is in law.

Still, the Kerryman has a story that Minister Gormley met with Joe O’Toole and will attach a provision on the name to a bill regarding the Dublin Mayoral election. It should be published by Christmas and signed into law in the Spring.

It would be great to see the back of this issue and get on with things, and it would be a big relief if the will of the people was recognised.

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I can only say in my defense, about the delay in writing about last weekend’s Dingle Food and Wine Festival, that it was such a good weekend that it’s taken me this long to recover! Bibliocook was fast off the mark, and of course there have been newspaper articles since, including this one.

Still, as one of the organisers, I have to say it was quite astonishing to watch it all unfold. This is the third year, and it’s grown every year. Recession? Taste tickets sales were up 50% this year. In fact, we have figured that there were 17,000 portions of food sold over the weekend, and that doesn’t include shops or the markets!

My favourite part of the food festival is the taste trails, and there were a huge increase in venues over the last year. From wine tastings to shark grilled on the pier for charity, there is such a variety of nibbles and such good value. If I hadn’t been so busy in the shop, I could have spent the whole days wandering the markets and the taste trail. It was foodie heaven.

I was lucky enough to have a sublime meal as well at Out of the Blue, with excellent company, and walking back from the restaurant, the moon was full, and the night was perfectly clear and still. Pauline Scanlon was singing with Tommy O’Sullivan in the Marina bar, there was a barbecue still in full swing at Murphys Pub, and the street was full of relaxed, happy people. It was one of those magic nights that one wishes would never end, and for me it didn’t end for a long time.

That’s one of the reasons for this belated post. Who cares, though! Well done to everyone who helped make it happen, and there were hundreds. A special thanks to Martin and our own Niamh. Roll on next year!

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 The winners have been announced for the 2009 Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards after an awards ceremony in Dingle (that’s Peter Ward of Country Choice above, who was the MC).

Congratulations to the winners. Even though I’ve been less involved this year because of the baby, it’s amazing to be a part of it and see the variety of foods around Ireland.

The Supreme Champion this year is an Irish ice cream company, Silver Pail Dairy. Well done! (By the way, they are also Murphys, and according to my father are cousins – linking back to my great grandfather in Kiskeam, Co. Cork).

Congratulations again to ALL the medal winners. The full list is here.

Hopefully next year we will have an on-line component to the awards. I think it would be very strong if consumers could nominate their favourite products!

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We went blackberry picking, because we’ve decided to offer up a special of Baileys ice cream and Dingle blackberry sauce for the Food Festival. Blackberry picking is one of the most relaxing activity I can think of.

I went with my partner and the little baby, and Róisín gave us enough time without fussing to gather a kilo or so. I hope that will be enough!

At least we’ll have some other specials in case we run out.

A couple of years ago I posted a recipe for blackberry coulis (here). Last night I cooked the blackberries for much longer and didn’t strain them at all.

I have to say I liked it better that way.

Technorati tags: blackberry, coulis, sauce, ice cream, recipe

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