Journalist Ali Dunworth joined Doireann Garrihy on RTÉ 2FM to discuss just some of the amazing Irish food experiences available around the country. Listen back above.

When it comes to food tourism, the vineyards of Italy, the Salt Valley of Añana, and the boulangeries of Paris may spring to mind. But what about Irish fare?

As well as being the land of Saints and Scholars, our small island has slowly become a culinary destination, with The English Market in Cork and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin being two of our most famous attractions.

As well as drawing tourists, though, journalist Ali Dunworth says that artisanal businesses are working to introduce themselves to local shoppers.

“Our day-to-day shopping is so removed from the original source,” says Ali. “It’s really nice to buy directly from a farmer or to meet a cheesemaker or to get to know what’s actually happening.”

Coastal Foraging

If you’re in the market for a seaside adventure, make your way to Skibbereen to visit wild fish smoker Sally Barnes.

In her dedicated workspace, The Keep, she shares knowledge and traditional skills through masterclasses, coastal foraging workshops, and a range of events.

“Sally Barnes is a bit of a hero in the food world; we adore her,” explains Ali. “She campaigns for sustainable fishing, and she smokes her own fish. She’s very vocal about how to look after our depleting fish stocks, which is also really cool.”

The Coastal Harvest Workshop runs from 9:30am – 2:30pm and costs €155.

Participants will learn to identify wild ingredients like sea beet, sea radish, sea plantain, shellfish, and seaweed. Depending on the weather, you might forage in the woods, where you will get to identify mushrooms, nuts, wild herbs, trees and wildlife. The tour will end with an interactive lunch where you will learn how to prepare what you foraged.

If Cork is too far a journey, Ali suggests the Mungo Murphy’s Seaweed Co Tasting Tours in Co. Galway or the Atlantic Irish Seaweed’s Discovery Walks on Derrynane beach on the Ring of Kerry.

Dairy Discoveries

If you’re a cheese lover, look no further than Saint Tola Farmhouse Cheese in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. The one-and-a-half-hour tour costs €15 per person (€8 per child / €45 for a family of four).

“It’s such a fun thing to do,” insists Ali. “Siobhán is the farmer there and the cheese maker.”

Guests can visit the working farm and enjoy feeding the goats before tasting some incredible of the produce.

“You see, full circle, how that affects the cheese,” she explains. “She’ll show you the cheesemaking, and then you can shop there. She’s another one of those food heroes that’s incredible to get to spend a little time with.

Part of the Burren Food Trail, Ali recommends continuing your day with a visit to Birgitta and Peter in the Burren Smokehouse to try some of their famous smoked salmon.

Baking and Petting

Dunworth recommends a trip to see farmer, forager and baker Lorraine Aspill at Daisy Cottage Farm in Wicklow. Here, you can enjoy a butter-churning class, learn how to make soda bread, fresh scones, traditional Irish bread, pestos, chutneys, and jams.

The Arán, Im agus Subh: Irish Butter-Making Experience costs €50, and runs from 11am – 1:30pm.

During the delicious workshop, Lorraine shares the fascinating history of its importance in Irish food, farming, and folklore. Next, the group moves into a live baking demonstration, chosen by the guests from our menu of traditional recipes. The buttermilk made during the butter-churning is used in the bake, a delicious nod to the self-sufficient traditions of Irish homesteads.

While the food bakes, you can get to know the wide range of farm animals, including alpacas, pigs, ponies, ducks, turkeys and pygmy goats.

To find out more, listen back to the full chat on RTÉ 2FM above.