A Culinary Adventure in Ireland featuring Vegetarian Cookery Workshops and Food Tours
Find out how our ancestors lived worked and cooked
Learn how to make delicious, nutritious, vegetarian meals
Explore the enchanting Clare countryside and its artisan food delights
Join us for a week of cooking, farm and food producer visits, nutritional workshops, food themed, historical and cultural nature walks in the Burren and more. You will find a warm Irish welcome, wholesome home cooking and a chance to taste the rich diverse flavours of the Clare countryside. This is a unique opportunity to explore the farms and backroads that tourists don’t see. The holiday includes vegetarian cooking classes where you will cook lunch for the group each day using our own organic garden supplies and locally sourced produce. Instruction will be by Mary Sheehan an American who has returned to her Irish family and roots. Mary has been a professional cook for 30 years, specializing in healthy, organic cuisine and developing recipes for varied diets and 
lifestyles. Prior to becoming the cook at Boghill her culinary journey has included Mary’s Cafe in Nyack, NY, Chef at the Dalton School in NYC, culinary school instruction and a restaurant consultant. Click HERE to sample some of her recipes.
Afternoon tours include the Burren Smokehouse and the Burren Brewery, visits to local farmers producing goats cheese, herb teas, apples, vegetables and organic free range meat and a herb walk through a Burren meadow where you think you’re in an ancient fairyland. You will be also be guided through the ancient landscape of the Burren and shown how our ancestors cooked in Fulachta fiadh. This trip offers you a chance to experience Clare life through its food, culture, botany, traditions, music, dance and its people.
2013 Dates: 12th – 17th May – other weeks may be added subject to availability
Price: From €595 pp (hostel accommodation) €655 pp(private room)
Prices: One 5 day break with hostel accommodation 595 euro (to convert from euro into other currency see side bar converter)
One 5 day break with private room 655 euro
One 5 day break with twin en-suite rooms 655 euro per person
The price includes accommodation, meals, tuition, refreshments, daytrips and full facilities.
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A Taste of the Burren – Itinerary
5 night break – Sunday eve to Friday morning
Day 1 Arrival
Arrival and check in to The Boghill Centre – a beautiful secluded Eco venue set in 50 acres of bog land – your home for the following five nights.
Interaction with Nature tour – A guided walk around a selection of sustainable activities on the Boghill Estate demonstrating a close bond with nature.
Welcome dinner at Boghill and music this evening in a local traditional Irish Pub.
Day 2 Farm Heritage
Join a vegetarian cookery class with your master chef Mary Sheehan and find out about growing food in the Boghill organic garden. Healthy vegetarian lunch with fresh
garden ingredients.
An afternoon Farm Tour with one of the farmers from Clare Farm Heritage Tours – learn how nature, culture and farming have shaped the Burren and its diet and how our ancestors cooked in Fulachta fiadh. On the farm is a small cheese parlour producing a mouth watering goat’s cheese.
Return to Boghill for some rest or a further stint in the kitchen if you chose. Delicious vegetarian evening meal at Boghill.
Keeping the food theme – you will be treated to an evening talk on Nutrition and Healthy Eating.
Traditional Irish music session at Kilshanny House
Day 3 Coast
Lesson two of Mary’s vegetarian cookery programme with more tips from the vegetable garden.
Healthy vegetarian lunch with fresh garden ingredients.
A trip to the coast is this afternoon’s feast.
Find out how the sea feeds and nourishes us and explore the beautiful north Clare coastline.
Back to Boghill for a walk, a nap or a peek at what is going on in the kitchen.
Gourmet vegetarian dinner at Boghill.
Optional evening hedgerow herbal walk exploring the many wild foods we can eat.
Travelling Bard story telling at Cassidy’s Pub in Carron.
Day 4 Doolin and Cliffs
Lesson three of Mary’s vegetarian cookery programme where she will explore wheat and dairy free options.
Healthy vegetarian lunch with fresh garden ingredients.
A trip to Doolin is on the menu today! There you can sample the delights of Doolin Chocolate Deli, visit Clare Jam – the smallest jam producing shop in the world and treat yourself to a view at the Cliffs of Moher.
An opportunity for some free time or another chance to explore the kitchen if you chose.
Internationally influenced meal at Boghill followed by a tasting of local cheeses and wines.
Traditional Irish music session in Linnane’s in Kilfenora.
Day 5 Lisdoonvarna Experience
Lesson four of Mary’s vegetarian cookery programme and an option to try some organic gardening.
Healthy vegetarian lunch with fresh garden ingredients.
Optional trip: Burren Free range pork is the fare you will be exploring today if you wish to see animals in the best possible environment. You can cuddle the piglets and if you are inclined – taste their scrumptious sausages.
Burren Smokehouse Experience – Learn about a local ancient food craft in the Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna and experience the natural surroundings and history. Your hosts, Birgitta and Peter Curtin will regale you with the local stories and host a craft beer and smoked salmon tasting in The Roadside Tavern and Micro Brewery. Also take time to have a wander in Lisdoonvarna.
Back to Boghill for an opportunity to put your feet up in preparation for tonight’s dancing!
Another delicious vegetarian evening meal at Boghill.
Set Dancing Class in Vaughans’s Barn followed by Ceili – a chance to learn and try out the local sport!
Day 6 Departure
After a last breakfast at Boghill gather your recipes and say goodbye to The Burren.
Please note: All meals are vegetarian, however cold meat and fish supplements can be added to meals if specially requested.
