The Menu: Paddy’s Day

If there was ever a greater patriot than The Menu on the Emerald Isle, he’s probably still up there in the GPO, under a desk waiting for the French relief force to come in on the Rosslare/Cherbourg Ferry, for Lá Féile Pádraig brings (green) tears of joy to The Menu’s eyes and a patriotic hunger to his belly as he considers the following: The Barry’s Tea Food Market full of top Cork produce runs today and Monday on Cork’s Patrick St and on the Grand Parade and Boardwalk South Mall on Paddy’s Day itself. Down in Bantry, the lights may be out but absolutely everybody will be home for the fabulous Fadó Fadó festival where the whole town lights the candles and heads back to a period pre-electrification with Tim McCarthy doing a pig on a spit in the Square and O’Connor’s Seafood restaurant doing a special old time menu. In Waterford, there’s an indoor food market in Merchant’s Quay. Annie’s in Sunday’s Well also have a tidy little Paddy’s Day menu and while The Menu ponders his choices over a pint of something black and truly Irish, perhaps a fine local stout such as Medaza, his crisp of choice can only be Keogh’s Shamrock and Sour Cream Paddy’s Day Special!