MAHON POINT FARMERS MARKET 08.07.2010…read more Dull morning in Mahon today but the Farmers Market was as lively as ever. Reached the venue just around opening time and started with a five euro bag of mackerel from O'Driscoll's of Schull. Passed Una Poynton's jam and cake stand and realised I had finished the last of the marmalade at breakfast. Una wasn't there but hubby was and my jar of thick cut was wrapped neatly in a fancy bag. Headed then for Green Saffron http://www.greensaffron.com/ and decided to try it out by buying a meal in a tub: lamb, rice and bread for two. Instructions of course came with it, generously detailed by the man himself. Then called to the Gubbeen http://www.gubbeen.com/ spot to buy the five star Chorizo. That will be served with our favourite Spanish rice recipe. A trip around here could take all day, so we had to be somewhat selective but couldn't resist the Old Millbank smoked fish stall where we bought some of their delicious salmon pate. Also made a stop at the Natural Foods Bakery http://www.thenaturalfoodsbakery.com/ where a round of a terrific organic white bread set us back €2.65. Don't normally shop at Tesco's but since we were there.... we filled up the trolley, yoghurts from Glenilen and some Czech beer buried deep in the load. MAHON POINT FARMER'S MARKET Been a regular visitor to the Mahon Point Farmers Market but it continues to surprise. It was very frosty today, the start of a 3 day market stint up to Christmas Eve. Some of the Thursday regulars were missing. Ballycotton Fish were there with some fine fresh fish. Moved on then to the nearby cheese stall and settled on the cheddar by Hegarty's of Whitechurch. Picked up some gorgeous smoked sausages from Gubbeen Smokehouse and some chilli products (in jelly form) from Rebel Chilli before finishing with some inviting veg from the Burns Farm stall. Despite the fact that a few of the regulars were missing, there was much more to see and buy here. The people serving at the various stalls are invariably in good form and helpful. For a full listing of stalls and products and updates go to http://www.mahonpointfarmersmarket.com/#/stalls/4532446411

Get the fabulous smells of fresh cooking early on the morning and you will fall in love with real…read morefood again.

Came by on a Monday at around 2:30 AM, excited to try some food. Unfortunately, everything seemed…read morepretty basic and overpriced, and there didn't seem to be too many options. Instead, the stalls mainly sell produce, meat, cheese, and seafood, which would be great if you were a local, but we were just visiting. There are a few stalls selling things like candies/honey/jams, that were reasonably priced, so we bought a few of those to bring home as souvenirs. We spent probably about half an hour walking around and made it through the entire market. It was fun to walk around and see all the local goods/products, but don't expect a lot of options for good food if you're hungry.

I was expecting more from this English Market. The selections were not that big (pretty basic…read morestuff), but everything seemed to be very pricey. Not impressed at all

BLARNEY FARMERS MARKET Twenty or so stalls set up in the…read moregrounds of Blarney Woollen Mills this morning as the regular Thursday Farmer's Market eased into action. Surprised to find an outpost of Manning's Food Emporium there but not surprised at all at the quality of their offerings. Got interested in the cheese and after a couple of tastings and a bit of banter decided on the Coolea. Bread was next on the agenda and a call nearby to the stall of Tom's Bakery (from Kinsale), a regular market attendee, solved that as €3.60 bought a rye loaf. Mealagulla Orchard was displaying cooking apples at just €2.00 for five. Great value as were the eating apples at €2.00 for ten. Left with two bags full! Plenty of other stalls offering food, including cup cakes and relishes and honey (Is it a bit expensive at €7.00 a jar?) and then one or two "craft" stalls and also one selling Native American flutes! Nice mix all round for both local and tourist and very central as well.

A whole food shop where you can buy organic products loose. Very good quality for very reasonable…read moreprices!

MIDLETON FARMER'S MARKET Enjoyed my walk around the Midleton…read moreFarmers Market this Saturday morning. It was perhaps the market that led to many others being set up and is certainly one of the best, quality at every turn. Bought some Chorizo and Hegarty's Mature Cheddar from the stall run by the busy Fiona Burke (who does three markets a week). Then on to the Ballymaloe Cookery School stall where the Lemon cakes caught the eye and a few were added to the bag. Passed Frank Hederman's smoked fish stall - we had enjoyed some of his smoked mackerel pate in Fenn's Quay the previous evening - to buy a piece of chicken brandy pate from Barry's stand-in (Barry had gone off on a deserved holiday). Then we spotted the star of the morning, a big Neapolitan Mastiff. Everyone just stopped as he strolled along but his sad story was told on a placard on his back: he had been rescued. At least, the story has a happy ending but we were all reminded that these rescue homes need a bit of our help. O'Driscoll's Fish from Schull have a stand here as well and, as in the other locations, it was busy. Bought some fresh looking hake and cod. Bread was next on the agenda and we headed for the Arbutus stall where we were offered two types of rye, one a sourdough, the other with caraway seeds. Took the first and headed for home

This market has gone downhill quickly. Some nice stands but poor varity and not much atmosphere…read more Arbutus breads and the pizza are lovely though,but they are both at the mahon point farmers market on a thursday which is an amazing market,far better than midleton.

THE SKIBBEREEN FARMERS MARKET…read more The Saturday Farmers Market in Skibbereen town is one of the biggest, one the best. It resembles a good French market and that comparison was underlined when it was blessed with fine weather this Saturday morning. There is a great variety of stalls here: fish, herbs, cheese (including Gubbeen), crepes, chocolate, plants, books, stained glass, cakes, jams and preserves and, like France, pullets! It is always well organised, always space for everyone who wishes to set up a stall, thanks to the hard working Veronica and her fellow committee members. Frustratingly, couldn't buy too much this morning as we wouldn't be home for a few days yet but did take the opportunity to pick up some spelt bread (Tomato Mozzarella) from the Dunmanway Baking Emporium. But there was no room in the boot for the fresh fish being sold by a pair of lively sisters and certainly none for any of the pullets. The market goes on my list and I wouldn't mind making the trip down from the city some Saturday morning. It starts at 9.30am and close around 1.30pm.

Skib farmers market captures everything that is great about West Cork...great food, friendly stall…read moreowners and multicultural clientele. Highlights include Gubeen Farmhouse Products, West Cork Pies and Frank's charcuterie.

BLACKROCK MARKET It may be one of the smallest markets…read morearound but Sunday morning's gathering in Blackrock is not without its fans. Some drive in, some stroll down, even spotted a pair roller skating to the venue today! And why not? It has a lovely riverside location and plenty of parking and space enough for the dozen or so stands that start opening for business around the 10.00am mark and stay there until 2.00pm. Despite the small number of stands, quite a lot is covered. Here you can get hot drinks (O'Connaill's coffee and chocolate among them) and hot bites such as crepes. Then there are burritos and soups and more substantial food items like fish and bread. Even noticed a jewellery stand there. So, if you missed out on the bigger presentations like Mahon (Thursday) and Midleton (Saturday), then all is not lost and a visit to the bottom of the Marina and the fishing village of Blackrock could well save the day for you!

Ballincollig Farmers Market has moved to the carpark and it now located closer to Tesco. Today was…read morethe first day that there was live music, but, I've heard that there has been live music before. There are a lot of food options for lunch and can get quite busy, but it is well worth the wait, the food is very tasty and the people are very nice. I have also bought various things from the other stalls and it is great quality. Looking forward to going back again and see what I can eat or buy

BALLINCOLLIG FARMERS MARKET…read more Called to the Ballincollig Farmers Market this Wednesday morning. It is nicely located in the lanes of the new shopping centre but is fairly limited, not very many stalls, at least on this occasion. Had a lively conversation with Joy O'Driscoll of Joy's Jams, mainly about her marmalades, and ending up buying a jar of her gooseberry (€3.50) and a jar of her dark Seville Marmalade (€3.80). Next call was to the Tom's Bread. We've been coming across them lately (previously in the Coal Quay and also, via ABC, in the English Market). This time bought a lovely baked wheat bread (€3.90) with a scattering of hazelnuts surprising the taste buds every now and then. Very enjoyable. Kept circulating and helped ourselves to some decent looking carrots from the farmer's stall, avoided the highly visual temptation of Katie's Cup Cakes and some hot food stalls, including a creperie, before buying a couple of herb plants at €2.00 each from the helpful man at Swanton's Stand, a stand seen regularly in their home base of Skibbereen where the market, much bigger than Ballincollig's, take place every Saturday morning.

We stopped by this store not really knowing what they sold. It looked like a convenience store and…read morewe saw fruit drinks and water inside so we decide to stop in. We had a conversation with the owner of the store. He is a very friendly Bangladeshi man. He told us he really loved Ireland and that people were friendly to him so he stayed! His store is well stocked and organized with any last minute items you may have forgotten to bring on your trip to Ireland. The store also has a lot of middle eastern type foods and groceries. I even saw a snack that I tried in India that I really liked. Unfortunately I don't remember the name. The items sold here are very reasonably priced. We are so glad we stopped by here on our trip through the Ring of Kerry!