18 days out that celebrate Irish food and drink, from butter making to tasting absinthe

From foraging to cider tasting, Ireland has plenty of immersive experiences to whet your appetite, writes Ali Dunworth

From butter making to cider tasting, there are so many chances to meet the farmers and founders behind Ireland's finest food

We all know that Ireland is having a bit of a cultural moment, and tourists flock here to soak it all up. But we’re not always as good at celebrating our own creativity at home — especially when it comes to our wonderful world of food and drink.

There’s so much to be proud of, and I don’t just mean eating out. I mean, getting to know the people behind our incredible artisan produce and celebrating the heritage and history of Irish food.

There are brilliant tours and experiences, with people opening distillery doors and farm gates to invite us in.

From coastal foraging to butter making and cider tasting, there are so many chances to meet farmers and founders and hear their stories first-hand, whether it’s smoking fish, meeting goats, tasting absinthe, or perfecting an Irish coffee.

1. Achill Island Sea Salt

• Bunacurry, Achill Island, Mayo
• achillislandseasalt.ie
• From €10

Take a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes look at how sea salt is harvested in this stunning corner of Ireland.

The O’Malley family has been producing sea salt on Achill Island since 2013, bringing back a long-forgotten local tradition. Learn more about the history and heritage, join a guided tasting, gather recipe ideas, and find out why chefs across Ireland love cooking with these pure Atlantic salt flakes. Open from June.

2. Atlantic Irish seaweed

• Derrynane, Caherdaniel, Kerry
• atlanticirishseaweed.com
• From €70

Atlantic Irish seaweed, Derrynane, Caherdaniel, Kerry

Husband and wife team John Fitzgerald and Kerryann O’Farrell have been running seaweed discovery workshops on Derrynane’s coastline since 2009.

Over a few hours, you’ll explore this beautiful area, foraging and tasting various seaweeds and seashore plants, learning about Ireland’s coastal heritage and marine ecology, and discovering why these remarkable sea plants are considered one of nature’s true superfoods.

From March to October, booking ahead is essential.

3. Daisy Cottage Farm

• Kiltegan, Wicklow
• daisycottagefarm.ie
• From €25

Daisy Cottage Farm, Kiltegan, Wicklow

Fancy churning your own farmhouse butter, perfecting your soda bread, or discovering the secrets of dandelions?

Head to Daisy Cottage Farm in Wicklow, where Lorraine, farmer, cook, and forager, shares her deep knowledge of traditional Irish food and customs through her farm tours and workshops. You also get to sample her delicious baked goods, and don’t forget to bring a bag to stock up on treats to take home.

4. Dead Centre Brewing

• Athlone, Westmeath
• deadcentrebrewing.com
• From €25

Dead Centre Brewing, Athlone, Westmeath

Right on the banks of the River Shannon, this Irish brewery offers weekend tours that dive into the art and science of craft beer.

Founder Liam Tutty often leads the behind the scenes tour, where you’ll get to know lots about hops and taste a range of delicious brews. There’s also a full bar and dining on site, so it’s well worth a proper stop off — just be sure to book ahead.

5. Galtee Honey Farm

• Glengarra Wood, Cahir, Tipperary
• galteehoney.com
• From €12

Galtee Honey, Glengarra Wood, Cahir, Tipperary

Located on the edge of a native oak forest, one of Ireland’s oldest honey farms invites guests to taste honey, meet the bees, or even don a bee suit.

Learn about Irish flora and biodiversity, and hear their story that spans 50 years and four generations. Each visit supports the conservation of the native Irish black honey bee, so you’ll leave buzzing.

6. Highbank Orchard

• Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny
• highbankorchards.com/tours
• From €10

Highbank Orchards, Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny

On this fifth generation apple farm, the orchard trees date back to the 17th century, making it a unique and special place where sustainability is paramount and their “slow tourism” approach is equally so.

Take a self-guided walk or go deeper with the Taste and Tour Highbank Experience. Learn about the farm’s history, sample their syrup, and feel the quiet magic.

7. Hips & Haws Wildcrafts

• Various locations, Wicklow
• hipsandhaws.com
• From €50

Hips and haws, Various locations, Wicklow

Anyone curious about wild food, fungi, and foraging will love the events led by expert forager Courtney Tyler, who’ll guide you through the Wicklow hills or along the coastline as you learn to forage safely.

Whether you’re interested in wild mushrooms, herbal medicines or seaweeds, you’ll pick up practical foraging skills and delve into the lost traditions of wild food. Booking is essential.

8. Kilbeggan Distillery

• Kilbeggan, Westmeath
• kilbegganwhiskey.com
• From €30

Get a full measure of history with your whiskey when you visit Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery.

Dating back to 1757, this distillery tour explores the history of Irish whiskey along with the story of the Kilbeggan community.

Join a guided tour or tasting, or enjoy an Irish coffee masterclass in the historic Cooperage. Daily tours available; booking ahead is advised.

9. Long Meadow Cider

• 87 Loughgall Road, Portadown, Armagh
• longmeadowcider.com
• From £32.50

The McKeever family has been growing apples here since the 1960s in the heart of Armagh.

They produce award-winning cider, apple juice, and apple cider vinegar, and love welcoming visitors to share their story.

Their orchard experience invites you to explore the trees, enjoy tastings, and finish with a homemade apple tart and cream.

10. McNally Farm

• Balrickard, Dublin
• mcnallyfamilyfarm.ie
• Tickets from €50

You may recognise the McNally’s name from many restaurant menus around Dublin — chefs love to use their produce.

Find out why on a tour of their regenerative farm, where you’ll explore the fields and polytunnels with Jenny McNally, gaining insight into how their produce grows. They serve tea and scones in the polytunnel, and you get a voucher to spend in their gorgeous cafe. Running every Wednesday from May to September.

11. Mescan Brewery

• Kilsallagh, Westport, Mayo
• mescanbrewery.com
• Tickets from €25

Mescan Brewery, Kilbeggan, Westmeath

Right by Croagh Patrick, make your own pilgrimage to discover how award-winning Belgian-style Irish beers are made on this brewery tour.

Hear the story of the founders, Naomi and Cillian, and taste a range of their exceptional beers.

Public tours run on Fridays from May to autumn, and must be booked online. Private tours, available on request, go deeper, pairing beers with Irish cheeses and artisan treats.

12. Muckross Creamery

• Scartlea, Muckross, Killarney, Kerry
• muckrosscreamery.ie
• Tickets €20

Muckross Creamery, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Picture: Joleen Cronin

At Muckross Creamery, a small family-run farm just outside Killarney, they use their own milk to make artisan ice cream and yogurt. Book in to tour the farm and see how it’s all made, from milking cows to crafting and tasting the final product. Tours every Wednesday and Friday from April to September.

13. Mungo Murphy’s Seaweed

• Rossaveel, Galway
• mungomurphyseaweed.com
• From €25

On the edge of Connemara, this aquaculture farm celebrates all things seaweed and also farms the seafood delicacy, abalone.

Book in for the coastal tour to learn more and do some foraging. Round off your visit with a tasting overlooking the Atlantic. Booking ahead is essential.

14. Rebel City Distillery

• Marina Commercial Park, Centre Park Rd, Cork
• rebelcitydistillery.com
• From €25

Rebel City Distillery, Marina Commercial Park, Centre Park Rd, Cork

Have you ever heard of Irish absinthe?

Visit this Cork distillery in the historic Ford factory, also home to award-winning Maharani Gin, to learn more about Irish absinthe and their unique range of spirits. Meet founders Bhagya and Robert Barrett, explore where the magic happens, and taste their small-batch drinks.

Hands-on cocktail classes are also available.

15. Shines Seafood

• Conlin Rd, Killybegs, Donegal
• shinesseafood.ie
• From €21.50

Shine's Seafood Conlin Rd, Killybegs, Donegal

Just beside Killybegs’ fishing port, you’ll find Shines Seafood, a family-run Irish tinned fish business.

At their visitor experience, you’ll learn about the history of Killybegs and its surrounding seas, discover the story of Ireland’s fishing traditions, and, taste what all the fuss is about.

16. Sligo Oyster Experience

• WB’s Coffee House, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo
• sligooysterexperience.ie
• From €60

Sligo Oyster Experience with Aisling Kelly WB’s Coffee House, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo, Picture: Anita Murphy

Irish oysters are revered around the world — find out why by visiting Aisling Kelly Hunter’s oyster farm.

Learn the fascinating history of Ireland’s ancient seafood, how oysters are farmed, and why they taste so incredible. Then breathe in the Atlantic air as you taste oysters fresh from the shore, paired with local beer or bubbles.

17. St. Tola Goat Farm

• Gortbofearna, Ennistymon, Clare
• From €15
• st-tola.ie

St Tola, Gortbofearna, Ennistymon, Clare

This wonderfully welcoming Clare farm offers a unique look at how one of Ireland’s best cheeses is made.

Watch a cheesemaking demo, visit and feed the goats, and learn about the craft and importance of Ireland’s cheese industry.

Public tours run Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from April, with private tours available.

18. The Keep at Woodcock Smokery

• Gortbrack, Skibbereen, Cork
• woodcocksmokery.com
• From €95

Immerse yourself in Irish food heritage and craft at The Keep, fish smoker Sally Barnes’s West Cork base, where she shares her infectious passion and knowledge of traditional skills and sustainability.

Learn the art of fish smoking or join Sally on a coastal harvest workshop. Pop-up events run too, but booking ahead is advised.