Galway and Cork were the big winners at the fifth annual Good Food Ireland Awards, with Aniar Restaurant in Galway scooping the top prize.

IT’S RAINING, ‘pull-over-it’s-too-dangerous-to-drive’ rain. Hardly ideal conditions for roaming the forest and hills around Kinnitty Castle Hotel, Co Offaly, foraging for mushrooms.

The Menu would scarcely have thunk it a few short years ago but Irish festival season, most definitely upon us, is coming to be dominated by food-related events, a cause for rejoicing.