Food in the old times

Wholemeal cakes and oat bread were cooked on a griddle. It was known, that even before the arrival of St. Patrick, that porridge was a favourite food of the Irish. Wealthy people and ‘nobles’ feasted on wild boar and deer and beef, mutton and pork were abundant but the poor didn’t have meat very often. People didn’t have any sugar either so they used honey instead. Aside from water and milk, the main drinks were those made from honey ale brought over in foreign or native ships from France or Italy.

Bullaun, Co. Galway

Collector: Ciss Dooley, Bellayarha South, Co. Galway

Informant: John Dooley, Bellayarha South, Co. Galway

Duchas, ‘The Schools’ Collection’, www.duchas.ie