Bia - Food

In Celtic times …  Corn (oats, barley, wheat, and rye) and milk were the staple diet  Dinner was centred around roasting spits and was characterized by an abundance of roasted and boiled meat, which were eaten with bare hands  The diners sat on the ground on straw or hides and used tables which were raised slightly off the ground

17 th Century on…  The Irish embraced the potato  As a result the Irish became reliant on the potato and forgot other traditional foods and methods of preparation.

The Great Hunger  Death (1 million) – extinction of lowest class of agricultural tenant  Emigration (1 million) – mainly to America. Birth of Irish Americans!  Represented 25% of the total population.  The potato crop failed which was the staple diet of many of the lower classes.  Other food stuffs were available but only to the middle class in Ireland and much was exported.  No help for the Irish.  Many landlords evicted their poor Irish tenants. The Irish were forced into the poor house were many died of disease and hunger.  Sharp decline in amount of people who spoke Irish.

Food today  A wide range of traditional and non- traditional foods e.g. pasta, rice, peppers, pineapple, melon, kiwi, chorizo, feta, brie, chile, pizza, lasange,

Meals  People normally eat: Breakfast: cereal, toast, fry, tea / coffee Lunch: sandwich, fruit, tea / coffee Dinner: potatoes, meat and vegetables Supper: cereal, toast, tea / coffee

Prátaí – Potatoes  the potato is the most popular of all vegetables  a staple  excellent source of starch and contain no fat if eaten boiled or baked.  an important source of vitamin C providing more than one third of our daily requirement

Other fruit / vegetables that are commonly grown CarrotsBroccoliCauliflowerCabbageOnionTurnip ParsnipSproutsLettucePeasScallionsMushroomsRhubarb

ApplesPearsStrawberriesTomatoesPlumsBlackberriesGooseberries

Meat  Ireland is very green and it rains a lot. Therefore there is a lot of grazing for animals. This natural diet for the animals improves the standard of the meat they produce.  Beef  Pork  Chicken  Lamb

Fish  Traditionally was very common  Quite common now  The clean, unpolluted waters around Ireland’s 7,500km coastline are rich in aquatic life and form an exceptional environment for seafood.  Chowder

 Salmon  Trout  Herring  Muscles  Oysters  Lobster  Prawns  Cockles

Traditional dishes  Colcannon: Potatoes, cabbage and either onion, scallion or leek  Irish stew: Potato, onion, carrots and either pork or beef  Champ  Bacon and cabbage  Boxty  Soda bread  Potato bread  Barmbrack

Drinks  Milk  Tea  Spring Water  Football Special  Whisky  Guinness