Recipe for Thoor Ballylee Oysters
Among those who often visited the Gregory home was WB Yeats. While Yeats is associated very much with Sligo where he is buried, he bought a derelict tower house near Coole at Ballylee. This he restored 'with old mill boards and sea-green slates, and smith work from the Gort forge', then renamed it Thoor Ballylee - 'thoor' being the Irish word for tower.
When you have finished studying the Yeats memorabilia you can have an expansive view of the south Galway countryside from the tower rooftop.
Serves 4
24 flat oysters in half shells
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tbsp cognac
Salt, freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
Garnishes: Crushed ice Lettuce leaves
Mix together the lemon juice, cognac, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the olive oil very slowly, stirring continuously until the dressing is well combined. To serve: Cover a large platter with crushed ice and arrange the lettuce leaves on top. Carefully arrange the oysters on top of the lettuce. Spoon the dressing over the oysters and serve.
