IrishFoodie

08/06/2026

A West Cork Summer

Let’s celebrate the summer with our special publication “A West Cork Summer”.

Hopefully we will have a well deserved and sustained period of high pressure where we can enjoy all the good things our region has to offer. From superb and dramatic scenery to wonderful boat trips exploring our islands or whale watching, fishing to cycling, walking, golfing and much more.

Apart from activities we have some great museums and heritage sites which will appeal to history lovers.

Our region has some wonderful, independent shops to suit book lovers, arts and crafts and textiles. It is a real pleasure to browse and select a memento from this fantastic region.

As regards music most of the bars offer entertainment over the summer months so a great evening is assured. Most of the bars have the entertainment on their social channels so it is easy to find something that suits.

West Cork has a whole host of wonderful eateries so you are sure to find something that appeals to you. We are known for our quality meats and fresh fish caught from pristine seas.

We hope you enjoy your summertime in West Cork!


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https://whatsoninwestcork.ie/

05/06/2026

Off to Dunmanway's historic Atkins Hall today for an event which was an absolute tonic for the soul: The launch of "Stories on the Street" A community heritage project celebrating the people, places and memories of Dunmanway.

Stories on the Street is funded by Cork County Council and is an interactive podcast series and website hosted by Dunmanway Historical & Cultural Association which involved children from 7 local schools and 20 adults.

The brief was to create a museum on the streets of Dunmanway an idea of Nicola Radley from West Cork Municipal District who spoke passionately and eloquently about this pilot project which is astonishing both in its depth and breadth. .

Michelle O Mahony of O M History Consultants and Patrick Kieley of Flux Learning delivered the project with design and creation for the 12 physical touch points with QR Codes which will be situated around Dunmanway Dunmanway Chamber Of Commerce Dunmanway Community Council Dunmanway Events in the next fortnight.

One of the 12 plaques is dedicated to Duffy's Circus who made Dunmanway their home from 1930's to 1960's. By coincidence Atkins Hall now contains the remarkable collection of Clown Memorabilia collected by Jimmy Noonan (Rainbow the Clown) and purchased by Binnie Atkins and now displayed in Atkins Hall. This I found particularly fascinating as many year's ago I had visited the Clown Museum in London and written an article on Joseph Grimaldi who was the most famous entertainer in Regency Britain, so much so that to this day "Joey" is English slang for a Clown or a Harlequin.

In the days before copyright or Intellectual property rights clowns registered their look (Their "Slap" from slapstick, theatrical makeup) by painting their design on an egg and registering it with their Guild. The worst sin in the Clown community was to copy another clowns look as you would have "their egg in your face!"

Stories on the Street is on Facebook and LinkedIn and will be on Spotify in coming weeks.

The presentation was rounded off in fine form by a wonderful rendition of "The Irish Circus King - A Lament for John Duffy" by the great Vincent Crowley of Bantry.

We are privileged that Stories on the Street is being piloted in Dunmanway but like Duffy's Circus I can see this travelling far and getting bigger and better with the years. Well done to all who have made this possible.

Whats On in West Cork Cork County Council Library & Arts Service Cork and County Living

19/05/2026

Special Birthday Tea for some very special ladies today in Mirabelles West Cork courtesy of the Chef Patron Des O Mara

Can't wait for the SUNSHINE / Gréine to see the lovely Secret Garden at Mirabelles West Cork come back to life.

Can't wait also until the Summer Ministrone and Black Pudding and Apple Sausage Rolls are back on the menu!

Our little Riad ♥️ in beautiful downtown 😍 Des O Mara

17/05/2026

On Sherkin Island for "A Sea of Dreams" with our friends in the West Cork Choral Singers at St. Mona's Church at 14.00 but first the obligatory stop at the Jolly Roger!

16/05/2026

Today Dunmanway, tomorrow the World!!

The famous Dunmanway Farmer's Toastie in this issue of Whats On in West Cork


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https://whatsoninwestcork.ie/

15/05/2026

Bantry sur Mer.
Looking mellow on a Market Day in May.

15/05/2026

The White Tailed Eagle fledgling from Garnish Island made world headlines doing a Circuit of Ireland 🇮🇪 for its first adventure from the nest but had the good sense to come back to West Cork.

Aren't nature's instincts amazing!!


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3pn3xnqn2o?

The bird, which hatched in Glengarriff Nature Reserve in County Cork last year, began its journey from its birthplace on March 22, 2026.

11/05/2026

Lovely 🌺 displays in our town library at the Heart ❤️ of for Africa 🌍 Day (16th May) and for the talented members of St. Mary's Community Arts 🎨 Group.
Dunmanway, the warm hearted ♥️ centre of

Whats On in West Cork Cork County Council Library & Arts Service

10/05/2026

Today at cucina it's pasta extravaganza.

Cooking up a big batch of salsa alla bolognese which will provide the sauce for two generous portions of Pasta alla Trecce (Braids) and 8 portions of a tasty 😋 penne pasta bake. Total ingredients cost for 10 meals less than €8.00. How do pasta dishes become €20 on Irish menus?

For the sauce:
Fry off in good olive oil 50g each of finely diced carrot, onion, peppers and celery in a heavy sauce pan with 10g chopped garlic and plenty of black pepper.
Add 450g Beef Mince or 50/ 50 Beef / Pork mince which is more authentic. Reduce heat and simmer c. 10 mins. until mince is browned.
Add a glass of red wine 🍷 or vermouth, deglaze and reduce for 5 mins.
Stir in a can of chopped tomatoes 🍅 and 500g passata. Add some balsamic vinegar, 50g tomato puree and torn basil leaves 🍃 to taste.
Simmer for 15 mins stirring frequently. The sauce can be used right away, put in fridge or frozen. If left to cool it becomes "gloopy" as starches are released and tastes better if reheated before serving.

For the pasta alla Trecce.
Boil the Trecce (or any other good quality twisted pasta) for 10 mins in salted water with a little oil, stirring occasionally.
Strain pasta and pour boiling water over to remove excess starch. Strain again.
Lay pasta in heated serving bowl and add reheated sauce on top of pasta. Dress with garlic bread, torn basil leaves and a sprinkle of Parmesan to personal taste.

For the Pasta Penne oven bake.
Boil 500g Penne Pasta in salted water with a little oil for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Strain and don't pour boiling water over.
Oil bottom of baking dish and pour in and half the Penne. Add half the remaining sauce and mix into Penne.
Add rest of Penne and sauce on top and spread evenly. Add 500g Bechamel or White Sauce and spread evenly.
Sprinkle with cheddar cheese 🧀 and dress with sliced tomato 🍅. Sprinkle salt on the tomato and generously season with black pepper.
Dress with torn basil leaves and sprinkle of Parmesan. Bake for 40 mins at 180 °c.
Make into 8 portions and serve with small dressed green salad.

Serve with Aperol Spritz and afterwards have a shop bought tiramisu because life is too short to do it all from scratch!!

Buon Appetito!!
IrishFoodie

03/05/2026

Love the muscular industrial architecture of Birmingham combined with the, at times, surreal canalscape. A testimony to the self confidence and ambition of this powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution.