Woodland Shoot, Seashore Forage and Winter Bounty Dinner at Belleek Castle, Mayo

This It’s a Wild Game day and evening event will take place in collaboration with Belleek Castle in Mayo on Sunday 17 November 2019 to highlight rural wild life and its winter bounty. Book tickets below.

Beginning at 12pm at Belleek Castle, guests will have the option to go on a Woodcock Shoot where you will be placed in groups of 3 or 4 and matched with an experienced shooter guide. This is more about the experience where guests will watch and following the shooter instead of shooting themselves. Shoot will take place from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Only experienced woodland users are advised to go on the shoot. Limited spaces available – please specify when booking.

Guest who do not want to go on the shoot have the option to on a Clay Pigeon Open Shoot from 12.30pm to 2.30pm (around 10 minute drive from the castle). This compact sport shoot will be suitable for easy to moderate users and there will be a support team available on the day.

Afterwards, a Seashore Foraging tour in the Moy Estuary with Alex Jaromin (leader of Slow Food Mayo) will take between 3pm to 4.30pm before the sunsets. For people who do not want to do this, there is an option to do a tour of Belleek Gardens and Apiary with Alex Lavarde (head gardener at Belleek Castle). The garden tour is also available for guests staying at Belleek Castle on Monday morning at 12pm.

To warm up after the shoot and foraging tour, a short Whiskey tasting is organised at Belleek Castle at 5pm with Connaught Whiskey Distillery.

At 5.30pm, a Castle Tour will take place of Belleek and the Marshall Doran Collection with their curator, Stephen Fahy. One of the finest collections of antiques, fossils, Medieval Weapons and Medieval Armour in Ireland are housed at Belleek Castle. The castle tour is also available for guests staying at Belleek Castle on Monday morning at 10.30am.

At 6.30pm, Castle owners Maya and Paul and their team will welcome you for snacks and a welcome drink in the bar before sitting down to a winter bounty dinner with matching drinks by chef David O’Donnell.

In summary

• 12pm Arrival at Belleek Castle
• 12.30pm to 2.30pm Woodcock Shoot or Clay Pigeon Open Shoot (10 minute drive from castle) – please specify when booking. Places are available on a first come first serve basis for the Woodcock shoot.
• 3pm to 4.30pm Seashore Foraging in the Moy Estuary with Alex Jaromin (10 minute drive from the castle) or a Garden and Apiary Tour with Alex Lavarde – please specify when booking. Option to do the garden tour on Monday at 12pm
• 5pm Connaught Whiskey Tasting
• 5.30pm Castle Tour with Stephen Fahy – option to do it on Monday morning at 10.30am.
• 6.30pm Snacks and welcome drink in the Bar
• 7pm to 9pm Dinner by Chef David O’Donnell

For guests staying at Belleek Castle, there will be ample time in between tours to check in.

Accommodation

Accommodation can be booked separately and directly with Belleek Castle at +353 (0) 9622400 or via email on info@belleekcastle.eu by quoting this event. Rates are for Sunday 17 November is €150.00 (room rate based on 1 or 2 person sharing) and Saturday 16 November €160.00 (room rate based on 1 or 2 person sharing).

Alternative accommodation is available at Mount Falcon Hotel.

Notes

• Please dress accordingly for the shoot and foraging tour. It is advised to wear winter boots, dark heavy clothes, a hat and a rain jacket.
• It is advised to eat a good breakfast or early lunch before you commence the shoot and tour. Jack Fenn Café at Belleek Castle is opened from 11am on Sunday – breakfast/lunch not included in ticket cost.
• The evening dinner will be set menu. Please let us know of any major food allergies or dietary restrictions. We will endeavour to cater for your needs if at all possible.

About David O’Donnell and Belleek Castle

David O’Donnell is the executive head chef at Belleek Castle. David works closely with their gardener Alex Lavarde where they grow fruit, herbs and vegetables organically and is used extensively in all of the menus throughout the estate.

Belleek Castle, located just outside Ballina, Co. Mayo was built in 1831. The property was acquired by Marshall Doran in 1961 who, restored the building and opened it as a hotel in 1970. It is now run by his son Paul Doran. Belleek Castle focus is on classic and imaginative cooking with local, seasonal ingredients from the land and sea combining a depth of flavour with the traditions of the castle. belleekcastle.com

About It’s a Wild Game – A Celebration of Ireland’s Winter Bounty

It’s a Wild Game is a series of producer activities and dining events around the island of Ireland, where chefs celebrate Ireland’s winter bounty. The events are hosted by Euro-Toques Ireland, a member-based community of chefs, cooks and producers who pride themselves on being the custodians of Irish food heritage. Part of the Taste the Island celebrations, the events focus on provenance, seasonality and the journey of the produce from farm, woodlands, shores to plate.

Throughout the month of November, Euro-Toques Ireland is hosting three special It’s a Wild Game culinary experiences in three different member locations.

The key element of these special winter events will be wild game, fruits and produce from the woodlands and the seashore. These once-off events are open to Euro-Toques members as well as the general public and will offer an immersive dining experience with activities that range from meeting producers, farmers, growers and makers, to woodland walks, foraging and hunting.