Ireland is an island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean, with the northern part of the island comprising Northern Ireland which is part of the UK. Nearly 20% of Ireland's land is devoted to farming, with the majority used as grazing land for livestock and less than 10% for crop growing. Traditional Irish dishes include soups, stews, champ (mashed potatoes and spring onions), and colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale). The potato was first introduced to Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 16th century and became a staple crop. Religious holidays in Ireland are celebrated with special meals, like Christmas dinner and hot cross buns on Good Friday. Meals in Ireland traditionally

1. By jorja davies

2. Geographic setting
•Ireland, or officially the Republic of Ireland, is an island nation in the North Atlantic
Ocean. The northernmost part of the island is Northern Ireland, which is part of the
United Kingdom. Almost 20 percent of the land is devoted to farming. Less than 10
percent of farmland is used to grow crops and the majority is used as grazing land for
livestock.

3. History of the Irish food
• Soups and stews are a popular Irish dishes. A traditional Irish stew is very
hearty and filling, with ingredients like potatoes, onions, carrots, diced
lamb chops and Canadian bacon. Champ is a traditional Irish dish
consisting of spring onions and mashed potatoes. Colcannon is mashed
potatoes with cabbage or kale
• Sir Walter Raleigh, British explorer and historian known for his expeditions
to the Americas, first brought the potato to Ireland and planted them at
his Irish estate at Myrtle Grove, Youghal, near Cork, Ireland. Legend has it
that he made a gift of the potato plant to Queen Elizabeth I.
•

4. Traditional foods of Ireland

5. Foods to celebrate religious
ceremonies and celebrations
• The most festive holiday meal of the year is Christmas dinner,
followed by Easter Sunday dinner. During the 40 days of Lent, Irish
Catholics choose certain foods they wish to not eat. At one time, all
animal products, including milk, butter, and eggs, were not to be
consumed during Lent. The poorer Catholics of Ireland were often
left to eat only oatcakes for the 40-day period. On Good Friday, the
Friday before Easter Sunday, the Irish eat hot cross buns, a light,
bread-like pastry topped with a frosting cross that holds spiritual
meaning.
• Another day on the Catholic calendar that the Irish Catholics do not
eat meat is All Saints' Day (November 1). Each county has its own
special meatless dishes for this occasion. Popular dishes include
oatcakes, pancakes, potato pudding, apple cake, and blackberry
pies. For Christmas, people throughout Ireland eat spiced beef, and
a fancy Christmas cake full of dried and candied fruits for dessert.

6. Meal time customs of Ireland
• The Irish value hospitality, and generous portions of food are common at home
and in restaurants.
• A large breakfast was traditionally eaten in rural Ireland. Common breakfast foods
included soda bread, pancakes, porridge, eggs, and various meat products. A full
old fashioned country breakfast might include fresh fruit juice, porridge, a "mixed
grill" of breakfast meats and black pudding, scones, and soda bread with butter
and preserves, tea, and coffee with hot milk.
• Dinner, the main meal of the day, used to be eaten at lunchtime. A typical dish was
"Dublin coddle," a bacon, sausage, potato, and onion soup. Today, however, many
Irish people eat lighter meals in the morning and at midday. They have their main
meal later in the day, when they come home from work or school. Lunch is often a
bowl of hot soup that is served with freshly baked soda bread. However, many
pubs (bars) still serve the traditional large midday dinner. "Supper" in Ireland
means a late-night snack. A typical supper is a slice of bread with butter and a
glass of milk.
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7. What type of equipment is used

8. How nutritous is the food

9. Photo page

10. Bibliography
• http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Ireland.html