A History of Irish Food with Tadgh Byrne: Ep 2

A five part mini-series for SPFTV centres around the Irish diet, with a focus on culinary history and, to a lesser extent, food production. Tadgh will visit some iconic historic locations around Ireland, chat with a range of guests from historians and food scientists to foragers, chefs and farmers while sampling plenty of delicious food along the way.

Episode 2: Early Medieval Ireland (600BC-1500AD): Dairy Produce

Although Ireland is famous for its potatoes, the potato only arrived into this country in the late 1500s. So what did we eat before this? Tadgh catches up with Ireland’s foremost food historian, Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, to learn about the history and origins of Ireland’s long obsession with milk and cheese.

Including an overview of modern cheese production in Fermoy and the way production methods have changed, we also have a chat with Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of The National Dairy Council. She tells us about dairy in the national psyche, how we export our butter, and the challenges facing the dairy industry, providing valuable insights as to why it’s not just Irish people who love Irish dairy produce.

About

Join chef and Food Studies graduate Tadgh Byrne as he explores Ireland’s rich history through the medium of food. The series will showcase Ireland’s culinary history from prehistoric times to the present day, demonstrating how our past has affected the way we eat today and highlighting a range of people who are doing interesting and innovative things around food in 2021.

This informative yet fun show is suitable for all ages. It will especially appeal to Irish diaspora and those with an interest in food or history, and is sure to help put Ireland on the map as a foodie destination in the coming years.

Tadgh will visit some iconic historic locations around Ireland, chat with a range of guests from historians and food scientists to foragers, chefs and farmers while sampling plenty of delicious food along the way.

Artist: Tadgh Byrne
Film Maker: The Reelists
Featuring:
Dr. Mairtin Mac Con Iomarie: Lecturer and Food Historian, TU Dublin
Peter Foynes: Director, Corks Butter Museum, Cork
Eddie O’Neill: Artisan Food Specialist, Teagasc, Moorepark
Zoe Kavanagh: CEO, National Dairy Council, Dublin

Commissioned by St. Patrick's Festival