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Hi all,

This is a bit of a strange one. I'm a researcher working for a TV company in Bristol. We are about to start making a new show for the BBC with Oz Clarke the wine critic and James May from Top Gear. The boys are going to be traveling around the UK and Ireland in August, tasting all the different beverages on offer. We're looking to promote local producers and one of our 8 shows will focus on Ireland.

I know the industry over there is very different to what it is in the UK and I really want to make sure we truly reflect all that is available at present.

What people/places do you think we should definitely be including? All suggestions welcome, the querkier and smaller the better.

Hannah

Hi Hannah,

Have a look at our Producers Directory[/url:2y73hdpu] and Pub Directory[/url:2y73hdpu] for ideas.

The list of actual craft breweries is tragically small, and it's often hard to know who's actually operating and who isn't, but Carlow's definitely worth a look, and it's no stranger to TV cameras. Hilden, near Belfast, is possibly the most photogenic brewery on the island. For that look-at-the-brewery-then-go-for-a-pint-in-its-pub piece, both the Franciscan Well in Cork and The Porterhouse in Dublin are ideal. And I'd say not to miss Hooker Brewery in Roscommon,if only because they're the only one in the country who don't make a stout, or any other styles traditionally associated with Ireland -- quirky and small[/url:2y73hdpu].

Thanks! I'll look into those, definitely hoping to go to Galway Hooker - they sound great. Unfortunately we only have a few days so are focusing our search on Dublin, Cork and Bunratty.

I have a lot of places in Dublin on my list, and we're visiting the Bunratty winery who make Potcheen. I'm just keen to unearth any other gems in the Cork and Bunratty area for the boys to visit.

Even anything un-beverage related but fun?

Hannah

"hannahgibson":3ffjahxz wrote: any other gems in the Cork and Bunratty area for the boys to visit.[/quote:3ffjahxz]That's probably best answered by our more southern members. I do thoroughly recommend The English Market in Cork, if it's not already on the list.

Hi there,

Yes in cork definitely suggest the English market - great food market with great choices and interestong stall-hodles and producers. From there perhaps consider places like Hedderman's smokehouse who have a stall there and do many interesting smoked foods and some of the niche cheese producers in co. cork, e.g. Ardrahan Cheese, Gubbeen cheese in west cork amongst others and of course the Clonakilty Black Pudding Company - a legend!!! Also the tripe and drisheen stall at the Grand Parade end of the English Market - that might turn a stomach or too!!!!!

[quote:swe8nvth]I have a lot of places in Dublin on my list, and we're visiting the Bunratty winery who make Potcheen. I'm just keen to unearth any other gems in the Cork and Bunratty area for the boys to visit.[/quote:swe8nvth]I'm not familiar with the Bunratty winery so I can't comment on them specifically. However a lot of the 'commercial' poitins don't closely resemble the bootleg stuff, which is regarded as the 'real' product. There are a lot of small scale producers of the stuff in Connemara (Galway). Whether you can get them on camera is another matter, due to the fact that most of the production is illegal, but it would be a fun angle for your show. There was an excellent documentary on poitin making with a one man operation on an Irish language TV station called TG4 a few years ago. I'm sure we could dig up more details if you're interested.

The English Market is worth a visit and don't miss Galway Hooker.