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Outside The Strand Inn, Dunmore East.
my favourite places
'No competition for the best ice cream': Food truck owner Brian Walsh shares his favourite spots around Ireland
Including the best beach for a sunrise swim.
Each week, we ask someone who really knows Ireland’s twists and turns to share their favourite places. Brian Walsh is co-owner of Pig ‘n’ Bird Catering – and this summer you’ll mostly find him in Pig ‘n’ Bird’s Bap Mobile serving up food at events and festivals around the country.
Today, Walsh brings us on a tour of the destinations he loves most.
My background: My business partner formed Paddy Torrie and I formed Pig ‘n’ Bird in 2014, as the two of us had always had a passion for cooking and eating good food.
We started up with a tent on the side of the road at the Bluegrass festival in Dunmore East and from there we progressed to an old trailer, which turned into the Bap Mobile. We recently purchased a newer version, the Bap Mobile 2.0, all the way from Shanghai.
The memorable place I’ve travelled to in Ireland: Belfast was one particular highlight for me. I did a black cabs tour while in the city, and it really gave a good insight into the difficulties the locals faced during the Troubles. Very sad, but very interesting.
My favourite town or village in Ireland: The best village in Ireland is hands down Dunmore East, Co Waterford (maybe I’m biased here). Start your day off with a swim off the beach or one of the many coves. Maybe get lunch or a coffee in the Bay Cafe and finish off with the cliff walk before heading to The Strand Inn to warm up.
The best place for an ice cream: There’s no competition for this one. The Freezin Friesian boys make hand rolled ice cream using the milk from their dairy farm, and they serve it at festivals and various events around Ireland. They grow their own herbs and berries and make their own brownies which they chop into the cream on their cold plate.
The best breakfast I’ve ever eaten: This is a tough one, but the Greenyard Cafe in Limerick does it for me.
One hidden gem in Ireland that not many people know about: The Waterford Greenway used to be a bit of a hidden gem, although it’s slowly becoming more well known. There’s so much great scenery along the south east – you can cycle from Waterford to Dungarvan and stop off in the little villages along the way for a coffee.
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