“The Irish food renaissance that has been ongoing for the last twenty years has had a parallel partner in Irish food studies. This book represents the best in academic research on Irish food history in recent years.”
That’s J.P. McMahon’s verdict on Irish Food History: A Companion a newly published work that takes its readers on a fascinating journey through Ireland’s culinary past.
In tracing the origins of Irish food from earliest times, the gastronomic odyssey begins at the end of the Ice Age, before covering the emergence of the hunter-gatherer community, and moving on to the world of modern Irish cooking.
In between, it takes a deep dive into the delicious world of medieval honey, banqueting, bog butter, whiskey distilling, and eighteenth century feasts and famines, all of which have left their imprint on the Irish diners and drinkers of today.
Edited by the talented Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman, the volume is beautifully designed by Brenda Dermody and brings together contributions from culinary and historical experts such as Caitríona Clear, Fionnán O’Connor and Isabella Mulhall.
It comes packed with rich illustrations, folklore, songs and recipes, and includes some lovely food-related poetry from Raiftearaí, Seamus Heaney, and Paula Meehan. The passion, as Darina Allen says, shines out of each and every page.
Likely to appeal to lovers of Irish history and food alike, Breandán Mac Suibhne reckons that ‘this is a book for the kitchen and the fireside as much as the library or study.’
The landmark new publication is available to order for €45 from the Royal Irish Academy and from bookshops nationwide.
Words: Martina Murray
A Note on the Images
Feature Image: Chapter 26, fig. 4 (from chapter Maura Laverty’s food writing, 1941–1960- Caitríona Clear) The cover of The Milky Way to Good Health by Maura Laverty (1954).
Chapter 6, fig 8 (from chapter Beekeeping and Honey in Ancient Ireland – Shane Lehane) Jack Carey of Clonakilty, Co. Cork making bee skeps from straw and blackberry briar from David and Sally Shaw-Smith’s Of Bees & Bee Skeps—Hands, vol. 36, 1983.
