HISTORY & TRAVEL
A Very Brief Irish Food History :
Ireland has a long history of occupation dating back 8000 plus years . Naturally , their food supplies and culinary methods changed and evolved through time . Also a variety of diet developed based on regional location in Ireland . Wild game and fowl , for example would have been a stable diet for occupants of what is now the Ulster region while fish , shellfish , and seaweed diets would have been found more along the coastal regions with fish the main diet particularly in the northwest of the island . Historically speaking there were 12 provinces whereas today there are only 4 . Previous to the introduction of the potato , meat , milk products such as cheese and buttermilk , cereals and vegetables would have been mainstream Irish diet . Of course with fish , mussels , eels , seaweed , and other water products depending on the location would have been common .
Agricultural development seems to have been hit and miss prior to 500 to 600 BC . Going back even further would have probably consisted of hunting fowl and game , gathering , and fishing . Food quality and rations would have been based on political status post 600BC . Whereas pork was considered the cheapest meat , poorer slave class people would have been fed on pork parts , while nobles would have feasted on game and meat . Blood was collected from live animals and mixed with various oats and seasonings to create various puddings which provided protein . Oats and Barleys were used to make a variety of breads , however breads were not common-place until much later in Irish history . With the development of agriculture food sources became more stable allowing for a greater population growth . Corn was also introduced into Ireland and was used to make various alcoholic drink .
Later there were various dairy products such as butter & cheese . Eggs , fish , porridge , and vegetables that worked their way into the Irish normal diet .
With the introduction of the potato came the destruction of mass forests and the full scale development of agriculture was established . Foraging and hunting declined and the reliance on cheap potatoes in the Irish diet increased . As cereal prices increased post
Napoleonic War era , there was a decrease in oats as a staple part of Ireland ’ s rural population ’ s diet and an increased reliance on potatoes and cabbage and sometimes salted fish . With most of the country depending on a single crop for survival , the stage was set for disaster when a series of crop failures began to effect Ireland ’ s potato industry . A series of small famines and 2 larger ones took its toll on the Irish population as a whole in 1739 and 1845-46 , where the death toll rose over 1.2 million and emigration hit an all-time high estimated to be 2 to 3 million . In the aftermath , a mix of historical culinary foods , English influenced foods , trade development , industrial revolution , and newer more modern delights seems to have all meshed together to form the Irish delicacies we enjoy today .
Sample of Traditional Irish Foods by Meal Type :
BREAKFAST FOODS :
Full Fry – Varies slightly from region to region in content but basically has Sausage , Pudding , Rashers , Potato Items ( of some type ) and beans with small variations by region – it ’ s definitely a hardy meal of fair portions wherever you experience it
• Breakfast Roll – Breakfast items wrapped in a bread layer
• Porridge ( Oatmeal ) – prepared in a variety of ways
• Black Pudding – varies by region
• White Pudding – varies by region
• Sausage – Flavors vary by region
• Bacon – Rashers / streaky bacon
• Potato Cakes or Potato Bread
• Soda Breads – varies by region ( White Soda Bread , Brown Soda Bread , Filled Sodas such as Soda Farl , Buttermilk Soda Bread , Etc .
• Pancakes - of various types
• Scones - of various types
• Fruits – a more modern Irish breakfast edition
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Fall 2016 1961 Magazine