Ireland’s humble spud no longer king of the carbs

THE potato - once a staple of the national diet - could face extinction if it doesn’t make a return to our kitchen tables.

Changing lifestyles and eating habits mean the humble spud is being overtaken by rice, pasta and TV dinners.

The drop in demand has hit the industry hard and there are just 650 growers in the country compared to 1,700 a decade ago.