Irish Culinary & Castle Experience
Date offered: Friday, July 24
Cost: €95
Minimum to Proceed: 30
Includes: Tea and scones and boxed lunch
(Note that this trip combines the Irish baking experience from the Tipperary Culture Day with the Birr Castle tour from the Hanly Woollen Mill Experience & Birr Castle trip.)
The Culinary Part
You will be welcomed into the home of your hosts, Mary & Peter Ward, award-winning foodies and owners of a renowned cafe. Their passion for good food is palpable as soon as you set foot inside their wonderfully busy eatery and deli, Country Choice. All food is made from scratch daily. BUT you will have the unique experience of going to their home, right to their kitchen, where the magic happens.
Country Choice is an award-winning independent delicatessen, café and supply business which was established by Peter and Mary Ward in 1982. The shop is still in its original 200-year-old premises on Kenyon Street in the traditional market town of Nenagh in County Tipperary.
Peter and Mary are known as national food icons — movers and shakers who make things happen on the Irish culinary scene. While soda bread is synonymous with Ireland, Mary will introduce you to its precursor — the ancient art of griddle bread. And of course no Irish kitchen visit is complete without ‘cupán tae agus scón’ — a cup of tea and a scone!
The Castle Part
The Parsons family have owned and resided in Birr Castle since 1620, and are renowned for their pioneering work in science, engineering, and astronomy. This is a must for nature lovers, families, photographers, scientists, and history enthusiasts.
Set in the heritage town of Birr, Birr Castle Demesne spans 120 acres of stunning parklands and gardens, featuring over 5,000 species of trees and plants, wildlife, and scenic trails along rivers and waterfalls. Discover the Great Telescope, the Lunar Heat Machine, one of the world’s oldest darkrooms, and Ireland’s Historic Science Centre.
The Parsons family invites you to explore one of the most extraordinary places in Ireland, created over generations as an environmental and scientific time capsule.
Planned Itinerary:
This is to give an overview of the possible day’s itinerary. It is subject to change based on the weather or other unforeseen circumstances. An updated itinerary will be provided closer to the date
8:45: Load coaches for departure at 8:15. Today it’s only a short way to Tipperary!
9:00: Arrive at the home of Mary & Peter in Nenagh Co. Tipperary.
12:00: Depart for Birr.
12:30: Arrive in Birr; light lunch (included).
13:45: Arrive at Birr Castle Demesne.
14:00: First tour
15:00: Second tour
16:15: Departure
17:20: Arrive at University of Limerick.
What to Bring:
Participants are advised to have comfortable walking shoes and to wear light layers! We suggest a sweater, rain jacket, jeans or pants and small backpack. Temperatures may vary with rain a possibility.
Disclaimer:
All parties participating in the tour and activities do so at the participant’s own sole risk. UWPIAA organisers of the tour are released from any claims, actions, damages, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses by participants in the tour, and all persons accept full responsibility for themselves during the tour.
