Food and Drink in Ireland

Food in Ireland

Galway has become known in recent years as a distinguished European region of Gastronomy. There are plenty of great local producers of fruit, vegetables and fine foods. Both the weekly Galway farmer's market and the Galway Food Festival are the best for sampling the best of what the West of Ireland has to offer.

Today, the Irish are most famous for their beef, dairy and seafood. The beef that is comes from Ireland is shipped around the world. Roast beef is a favorite traditional dish on a Sunday. Because Ireland is an island, we have a lot of fish in our diet. You will find many seafood restaurants in Galway. We would recommend trying out McDonagh's Fish and Chips on Quay Street or Kirwan's Lane if you're looking for something a little more upmarket. Seafood chowder is a thick, creamy fish soup and is definitely something that we recommend you should try while you're here. The traditional Irish breakfast is another famous dish and is a warming treat on a winter morning!

As a general rule, the Irish grocery shops are open from 9.00 until 18.00, with supermarkets open until 22.00 and restaurants stop serving at 21.00. Cafes usually stop at around 17.00. Most restaurants stop serving at 10pm.

Irish Cuisine

Halal meat can be found in most supermarkets, butchers and even in some restaurants.

Host Families

Host families vary a lot in the food that they like to cook. Some can be very traditionally Irish, whereas others might be the opposite. Some can cater for specialty diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, coeliac or halal meats. Please let us know in advance of any dietary requirements that you may have and we will be able to place you in a family that can accommodate for your specific needs.

Breakfast

Breakfast in Ireland usually consists of cereal, break or toast, fruit and eggs. The typical Irish breakfast is a combination of pork sausages, fried eggs, rashers (bacon) and black pudding. However, this is just a treat and is not an everyday meal.

Lunch

Lunch is usually a light meal, although traditionally it used to be the main meal of the day. Soup, paninis, wraps, sandwiches, pasta dishes are all quite common lunch meals. Shops and supermarkets such as Centra, Joyces and Supervalue often have deli counters that will accommodate for a range of different fresh, hot and pre-packed options. Lunchtime is usually between 12.00 and 14.00.

Ozone is our coffee shop in the building and has a range of salads, soups, sandwiches and some tasty specials each day.

Morton's is right across the road from GCI and is a delicatessen. It is a favourite with our students for takeout sandwiches.
Dinner
The main meal of the day is usually the dinner. Dinners might be a meat dish with vegetables and a carbohydrate. Pasta, pizza and vegetarian are usually part of weekly menus. Potatoes are always an integral part of the Irish diet, so don't be surprised to see them often! Some Irish people eat them every day! They are very nutritious and also a big part of our cuisine's history! Dinner is usually between 18.00 and 19.00.

Pubs in Ireland

The Irish pub opening times vary. Usually they open at around 10.30, except for Sundays where they open at 12.30. The closing time on on Monday to Thursday is 23.30 and 00.30 on Friday and Saturday and 23.00 on Sunday. There are late bars that stay open until 2.30 and nighclubs stay open until 2.30. Don't forget our weekly pub night as part of our activity programme! It's a great way to experience the best of the Irish publican culture as well as practice your English!

​Food and Drink in Ireland