Ireland Scotland Travel Blog

International Year of the Potato 2008

This world-wide celebration is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of the potato - and of agriculture in general - in addressing issues of global concern, including hunger, poverty and threats to the environment. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness at a national level of the benefits of potato in the Irish diet. Ireland’s involvement includes both an international and a national dimension. through a series of activities held throughout the year.

http://www.internationalyearofthepotato.ie/

Ellen McNulty is President of www.lynotttours.com

You may choose from the best Irish B&B's, hotels, guesthouses, inns in Ireland, unusual manors and even the most elegant Irish castles to form your perfect vacation! We have 3 star relaxed castles to 5 star elegant ones.

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Market Days in Wales

Market Days

South West Wales Mid Wales South East Wales North Wales The following listing highlights some of the markets that take place on a regular basis around Wales. For further details, please contact the local Tourist Information Centre

For information on Farmers' Markets around Wales please go to www.fmiw.co.uk

SOUTH WEST WALES Ammanford Open air market on Friday Carmarthen Open air market, Wednesday and Saturday. Indoor market, Monday to Saturday Fishguard Farmers market fortnightly on Saturday. General market on Thursday. Women’s Institute market on Tuesday. Haverfordwest Farmers market fortnightly on Friday, Riverside Shopping Centre Llanelli Open air market on Thursday and Saturday Indoor market, Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm Neath Indoor market, Monday to Saturday Pembroke Dock General market on Friday St. Davids Women’s Institute market on Thursday 10:00am-12:00pm, Memorial Hall Swansea Indoor market, Monday to Saturday Tenby Daily indoor market (excluding Wednesday and Sunday) MID WALES Aberaeron Farmers Market, 10:00am – 4:00pm Saturday, Memorial Hall Women’s Institute Market, Tuesday 11:00am – 12:30pm. Tabernacle Church Vestry Aberystwyth Cattle market on Monday. Main market, third Saturday of the month. Indoor market on Tuesday. Bala Monday Market (Weekly from Easter-September, Monthly during Winter months). Livestock market on Thursdays. Barmouth Thursday. Also Sunday in Summer Blaenau Ffestiniog Tuesday (Summer). Monthly (Winter) Brecon Tuesday and Friday Cardigan Cattle market, Monday and Saturday. Daily indoor market (excluding Wednesday & Sunday). Farmers market first Thursday of month (April-Dec.) Hay-on-Wye Thursday Knighton Small street market, Thursday Lampeter Market on alternate Tuesdays. Cattle market on Wednesday. Farmers market every forth Friday in the month (April-Nov.) Llandrindod Wells Small market, Friday. Farmers market last Thursday of the month, 9:00am – 1:30pm Llanidloes Saturday Machynlleth Wednesday 10:00am – 4:00pm SOUTH EAST WALES Abergavenny Main General market, Tuesday. Smaller market, Friday and Saturday. Central Market Hall and car parks. Farmers market, fourth Thursday of month. Market Hall Barry and Barry Island General street market, Tuesday. Barry Town Square Bridgend Indoor market, Monday to Saturday. Rhiw Shopping Centre. Maesteg Town Centre Caerphilly Indoor market, Monday to Saturday, Cardiff Road. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, High Street, Blackwood. Thursday, Bargoed Cardiff Indoor market, Monday to Saturday. Fruit and Veg, Charles St. Chepstow Open air market, Sunday. Chepstow Racecourse Merthyr Tydfil Open air market, Tuesday and Saturday. Main Street. Indoor market, Monday to Saturday. Within shopping centre Monmouth General market, Friday and Saturday. Agincourt Square. Farmers market, second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Front of Shire Hall Craft market alternate Wednesdays (May-Sept.) Newport Livestock market, Wednesday. Cattle Market. Indoor market, Monday to Saturday. High Street. General market, Saturday. Cattle Market in Pillmawr. Pontypridd Open air and indoor market, Wednesday and Saturday. Town Centre. Indoor market on Friday Usk Farmers market, first and third Saturday of the month. Memorial Hall/Conservative Club NORTH WALES Caernarfon Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm. Monday (April – October 9:00am – 4:00pm) Colwyn Bay Open market, Tuesday and Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm. Pedestrianised area of Station Road. Farmers Market, Thursday Conwy Open market, Tuesday (Summer) and Saturday (Winter) 9:00am - 5:00pm. Opposite Conwy Railway Station, Rosehill Street Denbigh Open market, Wednesday. Monthly market, last Friday of month. Market Hall Llangefni Every Thursday and Saturday by the Old Town Hall. Livestock market, Saturday. Market area Ground Corner Llangollen Open market, Tuesday. Car Park Llanrwst Street market every Tuesday ,Town Square Prestatyn Open market, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Underneath Railway Bridge Pwllheli Large open air market, Wednesday Porthmadog Open air market, every Friday throughout the Summer until end of November Ruthin Small market, first Tuesday of month. Town Square. Organic produce and bric-a-brac, Thursday 10:00am – 12:00 noon. Inside Town Hall. Women’s Institute Market, Friday (April – September), 10:00am – 12:00 noon Wrexham Open market, Monday 8:30am – 4:30pm. Waterworld Car Park. General market, Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm (Wednesday until 1:00pm). Henblas Street. People’s market, Monday to Saturday 9:00am -5:00 pm. Chester Street. Farmers market, third Friday of month. Queens Square

What is an Oast House?

An Oasthouse is a building use to dry fresh hops before they are sent to the brewers to be used for flavouring beers.

There are usually 3 main rooms in the Oast, the kiln, the drying room and the cooling room. Then there are areas to sort and store the hops.

An Oasthouse contains at least one kiln and uses the simple method of convection to dry hops.

Before they reach the Oast, firstly the hops are grown in a hop garden in rows about 1 metre apart, and trained up poles or string. The rows are wide enough to gain enough light to grow and for them to be accessed by the horse and carts and later for the tractors to pass and collects the pockets of hops that are picked from the bines.

They are then taken to the Oasthouse where they are sorted out, removed from the string bines that they are trained to grow up, then placed in the kiln(s) to dry out. They are then packaged up and sent off to the Brewer.

The first form of Oasthouses appeared around the latter part of the 1500's, with the increasing use of hops as a profitable crop, but it wasn't until the mid 1700's that Hop production and the Oast house really became a more familiar business, and not until the mid 1800's that it was in full production and many of the Oasthouses that can be seen today originated.

http://oast.me.uk/

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Irish Recipes Colcannon

Colcannon

This dish goes well with boiled bacon or red meat. It can also be eaten on its own with an extra knob of butter on top.

450g (1lb) cooked potatoes
1 small onion
225g (1/2lb) cooked green cabbage
2 tablespoons cream
50g (2oz) butter
Salt and pepper

To Cook: Chop cooked cabbage roughly. Chop onion and cook gently in the butter until soft. Drain the potatoes, season and beat well. Add cooked onion and cream. Fold in the cabbage. Serve hot.

http://www.saintpatrickscountry.com/IrishRecipes/tabid/106/Default.aspx

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Irish Potato Bread

Potato Bread

This is usually served with breakfast as part of the traditional “Ulster Fry”.

225g (8oz) warm mashed potatoes
25g (1oz) Irish butter
50g (2oz) plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

To Cook: Add the butter and salt to the warm mashed potatoes. Work in the flour to make a dough. Split the mix in two and roll on a floured board into two circles about 1/2cm (1/4”) thick. Cut the circles into quarters and bake on a lightly greased hot griddle or heavy pan until browned on both sides - about 5 to 6 minutes. This is also delicious served warm with Maple Syrup or with sugar and a little lemon wedge.

http://www.saintpatrickscountry.com/IrishRecipes/tabid/106/Default.aspx

Ellen McNulty is President of www.lynotttours.com>

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Irish Stew

Traditional Irish Recipes

Irish Stew

This dish is well known all over the world. The traditional recipe calls for mutton, potatoes and onions. Nowadays you will find lamb has replaced mutton, with carrots and pearl barley added for extra colour and interest. A good Irish Stew should be thick and creamy, not swimming in juice.

The traditional recipe is as follows:

1kg (2lb) gigot chops or 750g (11/2lb) potatoes
Breast of mutton.
Chopped parsley and thyme
5 medium onions, Salt and pepper, 375ml (3/4pt) water

To Cook: Trim the meat and cut into fairly large pieces. Peel and slice the potatoes and onions. Put layers of potatoes, meat and onion with seasoning into casserole, finishing with a layer of potatoes. Pour the liquid over and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for about two hours or bake in a slow oven Gas 2/150°C/300°F. Check during cooking, adding more liquid if necessary.

http://www.saintpatrickscountry.com/IrishRecipes/tabid/106/Default.aspx

Ellen McNulty is President of www.lynotttours.com>

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Irish Brown Bread Recipe

Irish Brown  Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs white flour
• 5 ozs wholemeal Flour
• 5 ozs bran
• 1 level teaspoon bread soda
• 1 level teaspoon cream of tartar
• 4 ozs melted butter
• 3 ozs brown or caster sugar
• 4 eggs beaten
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg {optional}
• Sesame seeds
• This mixture makes 4x2 lb loaf
• Cook at Gas 5 for about 1 ½ hrs

Method

• Sieve white flour and bread soda
• Add wholemeal Flour, bran baking powder, cream of tartar, sugar and nutmeg
• Mix to a wet dough with melted butter, eggs and fresh milk
• Divide equally between 4 greased 2 lb loaf tins
• Sprinkle tops with sesame seeds
• Bake in a moderate oven for about 1½ hours or until cooked
• When cooked each cake can be sliced and put in the deep freeze

Submitted by

Margaret Leahy
Castle Farm, Ballymacoda, Youghal, Co Cork

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Farmers Markets in Wales

Farmers Markets
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Farmers’ markets are often best place to buy food locally, usually with a good range of free-range and organic produce as well. Markets are mainly held monthly, so stock up for the freezer when you visit.

Aberaeron
1st Monday of the month
Inner Harbour, Aberaeron
Contact: Jan Fenner, Tel: 01970 828194

Abergavenny
4th Thursday of the month, 9.00-14.30
Market Hall, Abergavenny
Contact: Margaret Wilding, Tel: 01873 860271

Aberystwyth
3rd Saturday of the month, 10.00-15.00
North Parade, Aberystwyth
Contact: Jan Fenner, Tel: 01970 828194

Bangor
Alternate Sundays, 10.00-16.00
Safeway car park, Bangor
Contact: Joanna Robertson, Tel: 01248 421661

Brecon
2nd Saturday of the month, 10.00-14.00
Market Hall, Brecon
4th Saturday of the month, June to November
Bishop Bevan Hall, Brecon
Contact: Fiona Jones, Tel: 01874 610008

Caerphilly
2nd Saturday of the month, 9.30-13.00
Twyn Community Centre, Caerphilly
Contact: Stacy Hardwick, Tel: 029 2088 0011

Cardiff
Every Sunday, 10.00-14.00
Fitzhammon Embankment, Riverside, Cardiff
Contact: Ken Moon, Tel: 029 2019 0036
www.riversidemarket.org.uk

Cardigan
1st Thursday of the month, 9.00-13.00
Guildhall, Cardigan
Contact: Jan Fenner, Tel: 01970 828194

Carmarthen
1st Friday of the month, 9.00-15.00
Town Centre, Carmarthen
Contact: Nic Thomas, Tel: 01267 244450/ 01269 590218

Celyn
3rd Sunday of the month
North Wales College of Horticulture
Contact: Ericka Mackie, Tel: 01352 703217

Chepstow
2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 9.30-13.30
Senior Citizens Centre, Chepstow
Contact: Sarah Smith, Tel: 01291 627416

Colwyn Bay
Every Thursday
Bayview Shopping Centre, Colwyn Bay
Contact: Tudor Jones, Tel: 01492 680209

Cowbridge
1st Saturday of the month
A. John’s car park, Cowbridge
Contact: Norman Jenkins, Tel: 01446 774036

Fishguard
Alternate Saturdays, 9.00-14.00
Fishguard Town Hall
Contact: Kate Morgan, Tel: 01437 776168 or Andy Crook, Tel: 01239 841827

Haverfordwest
Alternate Fridays, 9.00-15.00
Riverside Quay, Haverfordwest
Contact: Kate Morgan, Tel: 01437 776168

Knighton
4th Saturday of the month, 10.00-13.00
Knighton Community Centre
Contact: Tom Taylor, Tel: 01547 520096

Lampeter
4th Friday of the month, 10.00-15.00
High Street, Lampeter
Contact: Jan Fenner, Tel: 01970 828194

Llandovery
Last Saturday of the month, 9.00-15.00
Castle Hotel, Market Square, Llandovery
Contact: Dawn Hoare-Ward, Tel: 01550 720369

Llandrindod Wells
Last Thursday of the month
Middleton Street, Llandrindod Wells
Contact: Michel Blaese, Tel: 01597 824102

Merthyr Tydfil
3rd Friday of the month, 10.00-14.00
High Street, Merthyr Tydfil
Contact: Town Centre Manager, Tel: 01685 725106

Monmouth
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 9.00-13.00
The Shire Hall Arches, Agincourt Square, Monmouth
Contact: Susan White, Tel: 01600 712611 or Sarah Smith, Tel: 01291 627416

Mumbles
2nd Saturday of the month, 9.30-13.30
British Legion Car Park, Newton Road, Mumbles
Contact: Robin Bonham, Tel: 01792 405169

Penarth
3rd Saturday of the month
Conservative Club, Penarth
Contact: Norman Jenkins, Tel: 01446 774036

Porthcawl
4th Saturday of the month, 10.00-13.00
Awel y Mor Centre, Porthcawl,
Contact: Gillian Rees, Tel: 01656 659441

Usk
1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, 10.00-13.00
The Memorial Hall, Maryport Street, Usk
Contact: Steve Shearman, Tel: 01600 860730/01600 869037
www.uskfm.co.uk

Welshpool
1st Friday of the month, 9.00-14.00
Town Hall, Welshpool
Contact: Mark Jarvis 01686 670722

Wrexham
3rd Friday of the month, 9.00-15.30
Queen’s Square, Wrexham
Contact: Ken Barney, Tel: 01978 292448

Beer in Scotland

Beer in Scotland was traditionally categorised by invoice price per hogshead barrel. This ranged from 40/- ale (very light beer such as table beer, often supplied to farmhands in rural areas) up to Twelve and Fifteen Guinea ales. The latter were dangerously strong beers, usually bottled, and sold mostly in 1/3 pint imperial measures known as 'Nips'.

Other common beers in this distinctively Scottish system included:

54/-, 60/- (light and mild beers) 70/-, 80/- and 90/- for progressively stronger export quality beers

Though the price of a hogshead became much more than 40/-, 60/- etc, the shilling system continued to be used to denote an Ale's quality. This terminology eventually became legally recognised under the terms of the 1914 Finance Act (session 2).

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Child Friendly Restaurants in London

Family-friendly Restaurants These restaurants are great if you want to enjoy a meal out with the children, or to celebrate a special occasion in fun surroundings. They all cater well for younger age groups and offer plenty to keep the kids entertained. Bank Located in Holborn, Bank has a full kid's menu featuring traditional treats like sausages 'n' mash and sticky toffee pudding. Younger visitors get free crayons and colouring books when they arrive too. Belgo Centraal Check out the fashionably funky chrome, factory-like interior and long tables at Belgo Centraal in Covent Garden. The 'Mini Belgo' menu, for under 12s, allows kids to eat free at all times (maximum of two children per adult). The main menu is Belgian in style with variations on the moules frites theme. Café Rouge The Café Rouge chain offers one of London's best activity packs for kids, including puzzles and stickers with a French theme – ooh la la! Take your pick from the younger kids menu or opt for smaller portions from the adult menu. China House Fancy a Chinese? China House, in Bloomsbury, is an excellent eatery for younger diners, with 'panda' portions on all dishes and Chinese arts and crafts activities from 1300–1600 every week. Activities vary but include magicians, caricaturists and origami experts. Ed's Diners Enjoy some American-style dining at Ed's Diners, dotted all round London. High stools, milkshakes and a variety of burgers make these restaurants great hangouts for kids. Hard Rock Cafe Rock n' Roll and traditional hamburgers give the Hard Rock Cafe an authentic American flavour. The rock memoribilia and music just add to the fun. Imli Tasty Indian tapas-style food is on the menu at Imli. With a central location in Soho, affordable prices and a children's menu, it's a great place to pop in for a bite to eat. Even better, from August 2006, you can take advantage of a 'kids eat free' offer - running for a whole year! My Old Dutch You don't have to wait until Shrove Tuesday for pancakes! My Old Dutch has three branches in London and offers fabulous savoury and sweet pancakes in a friendly atmosphere. Planet Hollywood Mingle with the stars at Planet Hollywood! You'll be surrounded by cinema memorabilia and entertained by film projections and soundtracks as you enjoy your burger and fries. Rainforest Cafe Go wild at the Rainforest Cafe where you can expect to find cascading waterfalls, thunder and lightning, rain showers, mist, animated animals and real tropical fish! American and tropical cuisine reflect the restaurant's exotic setting. Sticky Fingers Founded by Bill Wyman, bass player with the Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers is packed with band memorabilia, but also serves up a varied menu. With burgers, steaks, fajitas, seafood and more, all tastes will be catered for.