Darina Allen: The importance of blood to Irish food staples

This column was prompted by the recent arrival of Kate Ryan’s Blood, Guts and Black Pudding on my desk.

Kate Ryan's book on blackpudding inspired me to share this recipe I learned from my Great-Aunt Lil in Co Tipperary.

Sat, 19 Sep, 2026 - 01:00

Darina Allen is co-founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and more recently the Ballymaloe Organic Farm School in Shanagarry, East Cork.

One cannot but be in awe of the phenomenal amount of research that has gone into Kate Ryan’s Blood, Guts and Black Pudding. It makes for riveting reading, not just for academics but for all of us who care deeply about our traditional food and the loss of a vital part of our food culture. It reminds us of traditions that are in imminent danger of disappearing.

Every culture around the world knew and understood the nutritional value of blood and used it to make many products including a variety of blood sausages.

Seasonal Journal

Dingle Food Festival

Dingle Food Festival takes place on October 3 and 4. The festival features the popular Taste Trail, market stalls, workshops, children’s events, street entertainment, and more with a big
emphasis on zero waste.

dinglefood.com

When you are in Dingle, seek out Nana Lizzie’s Black and White Pudding at the Dingle Butcher on Orchard Lane. Also available in Limerick at Garrett’s Butcher Shop in Dooradoyle. Nana
Lizzie was Garrett’s grandmother, so the recipe was passed down through the generations.

Instagram @thedinglebutcher

garretts.ie

Midleton Farmers’ Market

Fancy having your own Farmers’ Market Stall? Multi-award winning Midleton Farmers’ Market has some vacancies. An opportunity to sell your own homegrown and homemade produce and products directly to the local community.

For more information, email Barrie Tyner: barrie@artisancaterer.com

Irish Hazelnuts

Just received my order of new season Irish hazelnuts and cobnuts in the husks. Most hazelnuts come from Turkey, Italy, Spain and the US, so it is wonderful to be able to source Irish organic hazelnuts, sustainably grown, high in oleic acid. There are wild hazelnuts on the hillsides ripe for foraging. Glenidan Organic Farm is a small family-run farm based in Collinstown, Co Westmeath and is run by Katharina and Desmond O’Carroll.

Instagram: @irishhazelnuts