DONAL'S IRISH ADVENTURE

#101 Dingle
Join Donal Skehan and his dog Max on an unforgettable adventure around the picturesque town of Dingle, County Kerry. Setting sail for a spot of whale and dolphin spotting on a sea safari can build up quite an appetite, and Donal is all too happy to find himself in the kitchen of The Fish Box, where Deirdre’s secret recipe batter and freshly caught fish combine to tide Donal over for the next leg of his journey. Donal has his pottery-throwing skills put to the test by Louis Mulcahy in his studio, but soon finds his newfound abilities overshadowed by the marvellous craftsmanship of early Christian monks at the historic beehive huts. Cycling along the coast, Donal heads to Coumeenoole Beach, featured in ‘The Quiet Man,’ to marvel at the stunning stretches of the coastline. A few ice cream samples from Murphy’s later and Donal is ready to learn the intricacies of a perfect Irish whiskey at the Dingle Distillery, before trying his hand at putting his very own Dingle spin on a Louisiana classic!

#102 West Cork
Donal and Max are off to West Cork in search of all the culinary delights the Rebel County has to offer. A stop at Gubbeen Farmhouse, home to six generation dairy farmers, to see (and sample!) the cheesemaking process gives Donal a taste of the rich food culture to be found in Ireland’s South West. Fueled up and ready to go, Donal and Max decide to take in the dazzling West Cork coastline by sea and try their hand, or in Max’s case, paw, at paddle boarding, but soon learn that it’s hard to keep your balance when you’re surrounded by such breathtaking views! Donal puts his feet up during a relaxing visit to Bantry House Gardens for afternoon tea before getting his hands dirty foraging for wild seaweed in Castletownsend. Next it’s off to visit the Queen of Fish Smoking, Sally Barnes in her secluded log cabin in the hills, followed by a visit to Kinsale Harbour where he learns of the chilling local legend of the White Lady of Kinsale. But after a jam-packed journey, Donal knows that the best way to digest the day’s adventures is by taking in stillness of water while a local fisherman helps him to whip up a fresh lobster roll at Summercove.

#103 Galway
Donal Skehan and his trusty canine companion Max are headed west in search of the scenery, tranquility, and of course, the delicious food that Galway has to offer. Donal invites us to follow along as gets up close and personal with Connemara ponies and learns to bring his own personality to traditional “Sean Nós” Dancing, all while taking in the unmatched beauty and character that he encounters at every turn. Next up, the pair hop on the ferry to the Arran Island of Inis Mór and find that there’s no better way to take in his surroundings than by horse and trap!
However, gazing in awe over the dizzying heights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Dun Aonghasa leaves Donal a bit peckish, so he sets off to Kylemore Abbey, where the historic setting provides a perfect backdrop as he shares the best way to prepare fresh, local oysters. Max soon meets his match when he and Donal witness a demonstration by Joy Joyce, expert sheepdog trainer, and his dogs, then it's off for a spot of lunch at Misunderstood Heron in Ireland’s only fjord, Killary Fjord. A trip on a traditional Galway Hooker fishing boat is the perfect way to round out Donal’s unique journey to reveal the true charm of Ireland’s west coast.

#104 Waterford
Donal and his trusty sheepdog Max venture to the East Coast of Ireland to the land of Crystal, Vikings and dog yoga(?) in County Waterford. Waterford is one of the largest counties on the island of Ireland and is home to charming seaside villages and beautiful beaches. It was recently voted the best place to live in Ireland. The adventure kicks off on Waterford’s famous greenway cycle path,, a disused railway track connecting Dungarvan to Waterford city. Here, Donal meets local skater girl “Bonnie Boux” for a chat about why she loves to practice her moves on the greenway. After a swift tutorial it’s time to say goodbye to Bonnie and Donal travels to the Gaeltacht area (Irish language speaking) of the county. Here, he visits Solás na Mara (solace of the sea) for some old fashioned rest and relaxation in their unique seaweed baths. All this chill time calls for a hearty meal as Donal prepares simple and comforting Bangers and mashed parsnips with crispy black pudding.

#105 Boyne Valley
Donal and Max are steering their way to the Ancient East, a land of myths and legends and food traditions but first up Donal takes to the sky to battle a great fear of heights at Carlingford Adventure Centre. With feet firmly planted back on ground and long acquainted with the only remaining keeved cider in Ireland, Donal visits Cockagee Cider and Orchard. The 12 acre orchard is located near the town of Slane, and owner Mark Jenkinson explains to Donal why he prefers this ancient tradition over more modern processes. Just a ten minute drive, set in the middle of a 1,500 acre estate in the heart of the Boyne Valley sits Slane Castle. Over 240 years old, it is steeped in history but more recently has been home to Ireland’s greatest rock concerts including U2, Madonna, Rolling Stones, Metallic and David Bowie to name a few. Owner Lady Iona Mountcharles invites Donal and Max to stay the night but first Donal cooks his Boyne Valley Cider Pork, using Cockagee cider.

#106 Shannon

Donal and Max set off for the midlands in this installment, to Ireland’s hidden heartlands on the banks of the river Shannon. Where better to start the trip than onboard the elegant Emerald star cruiser on the river?! Donal’s trusty skipper Declan knows the Shannon like the back of his hand and brings Donal to meet local fisherman Mick for a spot of river fishing. Donal cooks up a late lunch, a delicious Smoked Trout & Potato salad for his fellow river cruisers to enjoy.. It’s time to get his feet back on dry land so he ventures to one of the oldest pubs in Ireland “Luker’s”, situated on the banks of the river in Shannonbridge. Here, Donal steps back in time as he meets with the pub landlord for a drink and chat in the 17th century bar. Further down the river in county Offaly - Donal and Max visit Clonmacnoise - home to extraordinary monastery ruins founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán - but today he is greeted by fascinating travel writer, midlander Manchan Magan. Time to take things closer to the modern day…well 1700s where Donal visits the little village of Knockcrockery and meets Ethel, who has re-discovered a 300 year old craft of clay pipe making and gives Donal a one-to-one lesson in the craft.

#107 Antrim
The only way is up in this episode as Donal and his trusty sheepdog Max head northbound to county Antrim. It’s home to the bustling city of Belfast and to some of the island's spectacular landscapes. First up, Donal takes a bracing walk along The Gobbins cliff path with local guide Gerry. Donal visits the famous Bushmills distillery where he learns the techniques involved in creating their famous casks, of course he has to sample the fruits of their labour too! Inspired by this visit, Donal whips up a whiskey and apple sweet treat on the grounds of Glenarm Castle. Just a short drive down the road, Donal happens upon Belfast city centre where he takes a guided tour in a black cab where he discovers “hundreds of years of history in a couple of stops”. Donal visits Aunt Sandra’s sweet shop, a family run business where he has some hands-on experience of making their local delicacy “yellowman”. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, Donal visits Michelin star restaurant “Ox” to sample their refined tasting menu and meet head chef Stephen Toman. Suitably fed and watered, Donal takes a trip to the breathtaking glens of Antrim for a spot of fly fishing with a local guide.

#108 Dublin
The last adventure of this series brings Donal and Max back home to the fair city of Dublin. A city steeped in tradition, innovation, culture, craic and culinary delights. Where best to start then on the North coast of the city, in his boyhood village of Howth for a beautiful morning cliff walk with his wife Sofie and boys Noah and Oliver. A picturesque fishing village, Donal often cooks with what he can get on his doorstep and he rustles up a comforting bowl of seafood chowder with seafood caught that morning. Then Donal and Max hop on the train for a trip into the heart of Dublin City. First stop is to the famous Guinness Storehouse, where archivist Éilis takes Donal on a trip through the history of the pint and just how innovative Arthur Guinness before Foxy, shows him the exact technique to pouring the perfect pint, 119.5 seconds exactly. As day moves to dusk, Donal meets singer Inni-K in the 830 year old St. Patrick’s Cathedral - the perfect location to hear this contemporary artist singing gorgeous Irish traditional airs. Donal rustles up a dish associated particularly with Dublin - Coddle. The dish is often made to use up leftovers but for this recipe Donal uses onion, potatoes, bacon and sausages. A definite Irish comfort food on a cold Winter’s night.