COUNTY MAYO - FOOD & DRINK
The clear waters and the green pasture give to the dishes the main ingredients such as freshwater fish: trout and salmon ( frequently smoked ), meat: beef, chicken, goose, lamb, mutton, pork and offal and seafood: mackerel, cod, mussels, oysters and lobster.
Dairy ingredients come from the numerous farms: butter, rich full-fat milk and buttermilk and above all the delicious cheese: Ardrahan, Durrus, Cashel blue, Gubben and Carrowholly, the only cheese from County Mayo, made using raw cow`s milk and vegetarian rennet.
In the fields fresh vegetables grow, including: cabbage, curly kale, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, rhubarb and herb; the main cultivated grains are: barley, oats and wheat.
A wide variety of delicious fruits are grown in Ireland ranging from apples, pears, plums, strawberries and blackberries to gooseberries, loganberries and raspberries.
Farmers, Country and Food Markets have been in existence in Ireland for over 60 years and in the areas where their reputation is established, they are an integral part of Irish small town life. These markets usually held weekly or fortnightly, provide local small food, gardening and craft producers with the opportunity to market their goods co-operatively. They are particularly famous for their home baking and locally grown produce and handmade crafts. An additional benefit is that the customer gets fresh Irish produced goods at a reasonable price and the markets have also become a great weekly meeting place for local people.
Times & Dates
Achill
Ted Lavelle`s - Friday 11am
Ballina
Market Square - Saturday 9am - 2pm
Ballinrobe
Church Hall - Saturday 10am – 1pm
Ballycastle
AShambles Garden - Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm
Ballyhaunis
The Old Court House - 3rd Saturday of every month 10am - 3pm
Belmullet
The Square - Saturday 10.30am - 1pm
Castlebar
Market Square - Friday 9am - 6pm
Charlestown
Londis Car Park - Thurs 9am - 2pm
Claremorris
Town Hall - Friday 10am – 1pm
Louisburgh
Market Square - Fri 9am - 3pm
Swinford
1st Wednesday of every month
Westport
Off James St car park - Thursday 8.30am - 1pm
The dates and times above may be subject to change and it would be advisable to enquire locally as to correct details.