Why Are Potatoes Such a Big Deal?

You can’t talk about Irish food without talking about the potato—or spud.

Potatoes became an important crop in Ireland because they grew well and could provide a lot of food from relatively small plots of land. By the 1800s, millions of people depended heavily on them.

When potato blight repeatedly destroyed crops beginning in 1845, the result was the Great Famine, one of the most devastating periods in Irish history. Roughly one million people died, while enormous numbers emigrated.

Today, potatoes remain a staple of Irish cooking, appearing roasted, mashed, fried and transformed into dishes like champ, colcannon and boxty.

So when you see potatoes everywhere in Ireland, remember: they’re more than just a side dish. They’re part of the country’s story.

6 Irish Foods You Should Know

Irish Stew

One of Ireland’s best-known comfort foods. Traditional versions are associated with lamb or mutton, potatoes and onions, although recipes vary. It’s warm, filling and particularly good after a cold, rainy day.

Boxty

Ireland looked at the potato and apparently decided it needed another job.

Boxty is a traditional potato pancake that can be cooked until golden and crisp or made softer and served with different fillings.

Colcannon

Mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage or kale and plenty of butter. It’s simple, creamy and much better than the ingredient list might make you think.

Soda & Brown Bread

Irish bread is hearty, rustic and perfect with soup, stew or a generous amount of Irish butter.

Soda bread uses baking soda rather than yeast to help it rise, while brown bread is a wholemeal staple you’ll encounter in cafés, restaurants and homes around the country.

A Full Irish Breakfast

Come hungry.

A traditional Full Irish can include sausages, rashers (Irish-style bacon), eggs, black or white pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, bread and other additions.

You’ll commonly find versions in hotels, B&Bs and cafés.

Black & White Pudding

First important fact: these aren’t desserts.

Black and white pudding are savory foods commonly served as part of an Irish breakfast. Black pudding traditionally contains blood, while white pudding doesn’t.

They may be outside your usual breakfast comfort zone—which is exactly why Ireland is a good place to try them.

What Do People Actually Grab for Lunch?

Traditional dishes are only part of eating your way around Ireland. Some of the most recognizable everyday foods come from deli counters and takeaway shops.

Chicken Fillet Roll

Walk into an Irish deli or convenience store and there’s a good chance you’ll see one: a bread roll filled with hot breaded chicken plus toppings such as lettuce, cheese and sauce.

It’s simple, filling and extremely popular.

Tayto Crisps

In Ireland, potato chips are called crisps, and Tayto is one of the country’s best-known brands. Cheese & onion is the classic flavor.

For the full experience, try a crisp sandwich: buttered bread filled with crisps.

Don’t judge it until you’ve tried it.

The Chipper

A chipper is a fish-and-chip takeaway. You’ll find fish and chips alongside plenty of other fried favorites, making it an easy place to experience a very different side of everyday Irish food.

Teen Tip: Don’t eat every meal in a tourist restaurant. Bakeries, deli counters and local chippers can tell you just as much about how people actually eat.

Save Room for Something Sweet

You don’t need an elaborate dessert to finish an Irish meal.

Apple tart is a classic, often served with cream, custard or ice cream.

A 99 is soft-serve ice cream topped with a chocolate Flake. Despite the name, don’t expect it to cost 99 cents.

And then there are Fifteens, a no-bake treat particularly associated with Northern Ireland, traditionally made with digestive biscuits, marshmallows, glacé cherries and condensed milk before being rolled in coconut.

Teen Tip: If you’re eating ice cream near the coast, keep an eye on the seagulls. They’re professionals.

And Then There’s Tea

Tea is part of everyday life in Ireland.

It appears at breakfast, after meals, when someone visits and sometimes simply because putting the kettle on seems like the correct response to almost any situation.

You don’t have to become a tea drinker to visit Ireland.

But Ireland may have other plans.

10 Things to Try in Ireland

See how many you can check off:

□ Fresh soda or brown bread with Irish butter
□ Irish stew
□ Boxty
□ Colcannon
□ A Full Irish Breakfast
□ Black or white pudding
□ A chicken fillet roll
□ Tayto cheese & onion crisps
□ Something from a local chipper
□ A 99 cone

Bonus Challenge

Try one traditional dish, one everyday Irish snack and one food you’ve never heard of before your trip.

You don’t have to like everything. Trying it is the point.