Dermot’s Taste of Ireland: Series 2

Episode 1: County Antrim

To the lighthouse! Dermot begins on the Causeway Coast by drinking in the stunning views of Belfast Lough from Blackhead Lighthouse. There’s no cosier place to stay than by the open fire in one of the authentic Lightkeepers’ Houses. Dial up the postcard-perfect vibes in the colourful seaside town of Whitehead nearby. Or go all action at The Gobbins Cliff Path, an elemental walk above the waves.

Mr O’Leary, meanwhile, opts for the gentler pursuit of potato harvesting at Willow and Lore, a family-run heritage farm nestled in the Antrim hills. Here, you can experience Northern Ireland’s deep connection to the land through traditional farming activities like butter-making and corn threshing, with some age-old crafts and folklore thrown in for good measure. Make sure to stop by the adorable donkeys in the meadow, too.

Episode 1 wraps up in grand style at Glenarm Castle, where Dermot cooks the estate’s world-famous Glenarm Shorthorn Beef with celebrity Northern Irish chef, Paula McIntyre. This island’s oh-so-green grass makes for the tastiest beef around. With a 17th-century castle to tour, a 19th-century Walled Garden to explore, and great food to savour, Glenarm is a memorable place to stay. Options range from stunning Ocean View Pods to the towering Barbican Gate.

Episode 2: County Antrim

Continuing along the County Antrim coast, Dermot gets his sea legs on an unforgettable sea safari with Kintra Boat Tours. You can see whales, dolphins and seals along this rugged stretch of the North Coast. Tours also take in the sights around the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Rathlin Island, two top destinations if you have more time. Crossing the 250-year-old rope bridge and spotting colourful puffins are bucket list essentials.

Time for a sweet treat? Our host thinks so, as he heads to Ursa Minor Bakehouse in Ballycastle to chat all things bread and bake a fruit tart with Dara and Ciara O’hArtghaile. Using flour from only Ireland or the UK, this neighbourhood bakery is the pride of the local community. Level up your own bread-making skills at their bakery school, where sourdough and pastry classes book out fast.

Fuelled up for a farm visit, Dermot meets Becky and Charlie Cole at Broughgammon Farm, where they’ve established nature-friendly farming methods centred on sustainability. From ethical meats such as free-range rose veal (that our host helps to dish up), to regeneratively grown vegetables, this is forward-thinking farming at its finest. Add in supper clubs, foraging walks and a rustic shop and café, and you’ve got a health food haven not to be missed.

Episode 3: County Antrim

Dermot’s final episode in Antrim sees him take a scenic stroll around Ballintoy Harbour, which wowed on screen – alongside so many other Northern Ireland locations – in Game of Thrones®. While he might not be setting sail for Westeros, Dermot does hop aboard a guided sea fishing trip with local fisherman Gordy from Ballintoy Boat Tours, before cooking up their catch of the day back on shore. Not hooked on angling? Try the history or sunset tour instead.

Back on dry land, our host heads to the charming village of Bushmills to cook with award-winning chef Gary Stewart at Tartine At The Distillers Arms. This chic brasserie uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients to create elegant dishes. Think North Atlantic crab brûlée for starters, a main of braised Irish lamb shank, and an Irish cheese board with a glass of port for dessert. Yum!

Of course, Bushmills is best known for its whiskey, and the Old Bushmills Distillery is a must for whiskey aficionados and history lovers alike, as it’s the OLDEST licensed whiskey distillery in the world, dating back to 1608. We’ll raise a glass of single malt to that. Dermot goes one better, enjoying a whiskey on the rocks experience at the nearby Giant’s Causeway – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Episode 4: County Londonderry

Moving into County Londonderry, Dermot takes in the cliff-top marvel of Mussenden Temple from the golden sands of Benone Beach, which is a lovely spot for a sea swim. Nearby Burrenmore Nest’s luxury woodland lodges are the perfect base for exploring the wider area, including the Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Next, Dermot drops into The Blackheath Pottery in bustling Coleraine to try his hand at the potter’s wheel with owner Babs Belshaw. Her handcrafted creations make an ideal souvenir to take home. Or better yet, make your own in one of Babs’ pottery classes. Availability is limited, so don’t delay.

Then it’s lobsters at the double, as Mr O’Leary goes lobster fishing off the coast of Portstewart before cooking lobster rolls with chef Stevie McCarry at Lir, a happening seafood restaurant as seen in National Geographic and The Guardian. From a fishmonger to a food truck to a fine dining restaurant, it’s been an amazing culinary journey for duo Rebekah and Stevie. The zero-waste menu changes daily, based on what local fishing boats land, making your visit truly unique.

Episode 5: Derry~Londonderry

Dermot’s Taste of Ireland: Series 2 hits the halfway point in Derry~Londonderry, bringing his time on the epic Causeway Coastal Route to a fitting finale. Gazing out at the Victorian-era Guildhall, framed by the strikingly modern Peace Bridge, Dermot awaits the historic walled city’s foodie treasures.

Go beyond Guinness and you’ll see that the island’s craft beer scene is thriving, as evidenced by Dermot’s beer-and-cheese tasting at Walled City Brewery with founder and head brewer James Huey. Every pint of their award-winning, small-batch beer is produced grain-to-glass on site. You can even create your own mini beer on their Beer Masterclass!

The brewery provides majestic views of the River Foyle that flows through the city, and it’s here that Dermot’s off to next on a kayaking caper with Far And Wild. Their small-group adventure tours connect the city to the countryside, on activities ranging from waterfall swimming and coasteering to rock climbing. Top tip: their foodie city cycle samples many of Derry~Londonderry’s tastiest eateries.

One such spot is Pyke ‘N’ Pommes, a much-loved food truck that Dermot heads to on the riverfront. He cooks with owner Kevin Pyke, who has been elevating the city’s street food scene for years. We’re talking deep-fried squid tacos, pork belly pintxos and loaded brisket fries. The food cravings are real.

Episode 6: County Donegal

Dermot’s appetite for maritime mischief ain’t letting up yet, as he leaves Derry~Londonderry behind to kick off the second half of his coastal odyssey, on the Wild Atlantic Way. This mammoth 2,500km road trip is the LONGEST defined coastal touring route on Earth, so for this visit, Dermot is sticking to Donegal and Sligo in the north-west.

Starting at Malin Head in County Donegal, the island of Ireland’s northernmost point, our host takes in the endless sea views at the edge of Europe. It’s no wonder Star Wars: The Last Jedi was shot at this otherworldly location. From buzzy film locations to plain buzzy bees, Dermot moves on to learn about beekeeping and honey production with Abdul at Donagh Bees.

Inspired by Ireland’s bountiful natural larder, Mr O'Leary goes mushroom foraging in the forest, before taking his haul to The Lemon Tree to cook with chef Chris Molloy. Expect exquisite dishes from this Michelin-recommended restaurant that champions Donegal’s incredible local ingredients. Wild mushroom arancini, anyone?

Rounding off episode 6 is a spectacular visit to the round stone fort, Grianán of Aileach, on the summit of Greenan Mountain. This magnificent monument dates back over a thousand years and is steeped in myth and legend. From the supernatural race of the Tuatha Dé Danann to warring medieval Irish kings to Dermot and crew, this ancient structure has drawn people near for millennia. And the views of the surrounding Inishowen Peninsula? Timeless.

Episode 7: County Donegal

Next, Dermot takes in the gargantuan Slieve League Cliffs, which are some of the HIGHEST sea cliffs in Europe, before filleting monkfish at Molloy’s Fish Market in the colourful seaside town of Killybegs. As the largest fishing port on the island, Killybegs is a seafood lover’s dream. At Shines, a family-run seafood company, Dermot creates a “seacuterie” board with owners John and Marianne. Their tour includes a tasting of Irish tuna, sardines and mackerel, as well as a photo op in the world’s largest sardine tin!

Continuing through Donegal’s vast expanses, Dermot is charmed at Glencolmcille Folk Village, where he cooks traditional moss pudding with Marie and tours the cute, thatched cottages with Margaret. It’s a step back in time to old Irish life, a culture rich in music, dance and craft.

Then Dermot brushes up on his “cúpla focal” (few words) of Irish with Rónán Ó Dochartaigh from Oideas Gael, provider of Irish language courses and cultural holidays. Irish harp lessons, tapestry weaving, landscape painting... there’s something for everyone. For Dermot, it’s on to a lively trad music session in a local pub for some culture and craic, Glencolmcille-style.

Episode 8: Donegal town

Nestled by the glistening waters of Donegal Bay and backed by the Bluestack Mountains, Dermot’s idyllic next stop is Donegal town. He visits 15th-century Donegal Castle, which towers over the River Eske and was the personal fortress of legendary clan chief, Red Hugh O'Donnell. Then he meets another local legend in a pretty orchard, chef Brian McDermott, and together they bake a homely apple pie.

Stylish Dermot couldn’t miss the chance to learn all about Donegal tweed, the traditional Irish woven wool fabric adorned by style icons the world over. At Hanna Hats, he learns how to craft this heritage product into a timeless piece of fashion. Uncover the handcrafting process on their workshop tour or simply pick up a hat as a dapper memento of your visit.

From an age-old Donegal town institution to a modern-day one, our host makes railway curry (Donegal lamb and Irish potatoes) with head chef Rana at Chandpur, regularly considered one of the best Indian restaurants in Ireland. Here, classic Indian cooking combines with Irish ingredients to create incredible dishes.

Episode 9: County Sligo

If this trip were a three-course meal, Dermot would be tucking into dessert about now, as he moves from Donegal into County Sligo. But it’s a savoury rather than sweet treat that awaits at the Sligo Oyster Experience, as he tours and tastes wild Atlantic oysters in glimmering Sligo Bay. If you’re not a fan of them fresh from the shell, make sure to try their baked oysters or the deep-fried oyster sandwich!

In Sligo town, our host embarks on the Taste of Sligo Food Tour with local food expert, Anthony Gray. Described as a “moveable feast through the town’s best-loved patisseries, pubs and restaurants,” it’s the yummiest way to tick off Sligo’s foodie hotspots. Don’t miss the eye-catching WB Yeats statue on your crawl. The Nobel prize-winning poet cherished Sligo’s beauty like nowhere else.

Dermot’s food skills are then put to the test once more in the fine dining surroundings of Eala Bhán. Regional dishes made with seasonal ingredients are top of the menu. North Atlantic scallops in lemon butter, truffle bacon mash, and locally sourced steaks cooked to perfection are just some of the delectable items that’ll have you nom, nom, nomming your way here.

Episode 10: County Sligo

Surf’s up for Dermot in the final episode, as he hits the waves in Strandhill for a surf session with Rebelle Surf, named one of the top 10 surf schools in the world by Condé Nast Traveller. Both Sligo and Donegal catch HUGE Atlantic Ocean waves, drawing surfers from around the world. Rugged Mullaghmore is another gnarly surf destination nearby.

The chill surf vibes continue at Stoked, where our host creates a surf-inspired dish with the team, headed up by chef Shane Meehan, himself a 10-time national bodyboard champion! The exciting global menu features Peruvian fish bao, Sri Lankan chicken curry, Korean cauliflower wings and more. We’re stoked just thinking about it.

Did WB Yeats ever wipe out while surfing a big barrel wave? Now, there’s an image. Dermot meets a local Yeats expert to find out how the great scribe’s passion for Sligo made its way into his poems. Visit a magical landmark like Ben Bulben Mountain, and it’s easy to see why the iconic writer was so enthralled by these wondrous landscapes.

Dermot has eaten ridiculously well on this trip, but he’s saved the best meal for last. He mixes ingredients gathered along his journey with a dash of inspiration garnered from local chefs, producers and food guides, to prepare a two-course feast that celebrates the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way. Just like his meal, Dermot’s Taste of Ireland: Series 2 has doubled up on food, flavour and fun on two extraordinary coastlines.

Hungry for more?

Ireland’s farm-to-fork feasts and super-fresh seafood fuelled Dermot’s adventures at attractions great and small, from wave-lashed lighthouses and ancient stone forts to local tweed shops. He’s given you a taster, now it’s time to plan and book your own foodie escape along the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way. Check out our expertly curated list below of top things to see, do and devour along the journey.

Dermot’s Taste of Ireland: Series 2 will air weekly from Saturday 2nd May on ITV and is also available on ITVX.