Taste the island: food and drink experiences

Thanks to our talented artisan food producers, incredible natural ingredients and award-winning restaurants and cafés, the island of Ireland is one of the most talked-about food destinations in Europe. Here we take a closer look and some of the delicious food and drink tours you won’t want to miss.

The tour: These food trails are all about celebrating the heritage, scenery and rich food culture of the area, with three options – as well as private tours – available. Taste the North starts in Letterkenny and journeys towards the gorgeous seaside villages of Downings and Carrigart.

With the Taste the South tour, you can soak up the knock-out landscapes around Lough Eske and Killybegs, meeting local producers and food heroes. Or how about a Gin Trail? With someone else doing the driving, it’s the perfect way to enjoy the tastes of Ireland’s buzzing gin scene.

2. Galway Food Tours, Galway city

The tour: Run by Sheena Dignam and Gosia Letowska, this walking tour takes a deep dive into Galway’s culinary scene allowing you to experience all that this Wild Atlantic Way city has become famous for, from oysters to local craft beers.

As well as stopping off at the Galway Market – a haven for foodies – the tour also brings you to award-winning restaurants and cafés… And as the tour takes place in the morning, it’s an ideal chance to make a whole day of Galway’s gourmet delights by booking yourself dinner at one of the city’s top places to eat, such as Michelin-starred Loam or Aniar, or local favourites, Kai or Ard Bia.

The tour: Visitors can explore the day-to-day life of a working farm at Broughgammon Farm in County Antrim. From farm to fork, guests enjoy a meet-and-greet with the animals, learn all about the farm's rich heritage and discover how sustainability and eco-friendly methods have forged the farm’s award-winning products.

After tucking into artisan cheeses and meats, check out the farm shop for local food and crafts. You could even wow some dinner guests at home, with the help of a complimentary cookbook full of tasty Irish recipes.

The tour: Whiskey Island Tours takes groups on a whistle-stop trail of Dublin’s whiskey hotspots. At the Irish Whiskey Museum, storytellers bring the legacy of Ireland’s whiskeys to life, followed by tastings in the on-site bar. Next stop is the Jameson Distillery in Smithfield where guests enjoy a special whiskey tasting in the Maturation House. And what whiskey trail would be complete without visiting one of Dublin’s newest distilleries? Roe & Co Distillery invites you on a three-part tour followed by a tutored cocktail workshop in the Flavours Room. After a bespoke cocktail in the Power House Bar, round off the day browsing bottles of liquid gold at the Celtic Whiskey Shop.

The tour: With Brewery Hops tours, visitors can come face-to-face with the passionate producers who turned a labour of love into award-winning, high-quality produce. First stop is Kilruddery House. Owner-manager Fionnuala Ardee welcomes you into her home where the Earls of Meath have lived for almost 400 years. Fionnuala brings to life the history of this great manor and its gardens with a guided tour, before you all sit down for lunch by the fire in the rustic Shoot Room.

Afterwards, your next stop is a tour of the Wicklow Way Winery, followed by the Wicklow Wolf Brewery, which includes a tour of the aromatic brew-house and tasters of delicious craft beers. But don’t say sláinte just yet! Save it for the final tasting of Fercullen Irish Whiskey, accompanied by delicious food pairings, on your tour of Powerscourt Distillery.

The tour: Delicious locally sourced food and drink and a whirlwind trip along the stunning Causeway Coastal Route make this a foodie experience to savour. The Coast and Country experience begins in Coleraine, indulging in the tasty produce at the Causeway Speciality Market. Along the banks of the River Bann, guests are then treated to a lunch of local delicacies in Arbutus at The Crannagh – including Lough Neagh eels with Irish Black Butter.

Afterwards, soak up the history and enjoy a wee dram at Ireland’s oldest working distillery – Old Bushmills Distillery. Hungry for more? Relax in the cosy surroundings of Tartine at the Distillers Arms just around the corner, where a meal full of local and seasonal delights will satisfy even the most discerning palate.