Blog (food and drink) - Visit Mourne Mountains

Christmas just calls for an afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of the Mourne Mountains, Ring of Gullion and Strangford Lough. 

One thing to enjoy about the dark nights and chilly evenings rolling in is that they create the perfect ambiance. At this time of year, you can enjoy warming, seasonal menus made with delicious local ingredients across the Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion. 

Killeavy Castle Is Named Hotel of the Year  

The four star, Killeavy Castle Estate, nestled in the heart of County Armagh has been named AA Hotel of the Year Northern Ireland at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards 2023. 

Fionn Rocks the Lough for the Return of Wake the Giant

Fionn mac Cumhaill, the towering centrepiece of the eagerly anticipated Wake the Giant festival, will make a spectacular return to Warrenpoint again this year.  Taking place on 19 and 20 August, the legendary giant Fionn will rise from the depths of Carlingford Lough to overlook a weekend of music and storytelling amidst a bustling festival atmosphere.

Located in the southeast corner of Northern Ireland is the Mourne, Gullion, Strangford geopark.  The area is culturally rich and champions sustainable and local tourism experiences.

Mourne, Gullion and Strangford are areas where the landscape is rich and fertile allowing food to be grown and produced locally.  The coastal waters surrounding the region is home to the richest fishing waters in Ireland.  Our rivers and lakes are also home to some of the best freshwater catches.

Don’t get hangry when you’re hiking, walking or having fun - grab some grub and pack a picnic!

At last, the weather is starting to turn in our favour and the sun has got his hat on!  We will be spending more time outdoors and what could be better than a beautifully prepared picnic to keep us well fed and watered on our day out?  Don’t feel like making your own?  Why not have a picnic prepared for you? 

We are delighted to have so many local restaurants and business's feature amoung the winners at two prestigious award ceremonies held recently. 
 

A special day for a very special person, Mother’s Day, also known as Mothering Sunday, is celebrated on Sunday, 19 March this year and it is a time to be grateful to our mothers for all the love and care she has shown us throughout our lives.  Obviously we should try to show our appreciation to our mother at all times but it is nice to have a day specifically dedicated to her. 

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems.

Suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, known as Burns Night. However, in principle, celebrations may be held at any other time of the year. 

Check out what's happening this year in our area...

The Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion is a veritable smorgasbord of delightful and tasty experiences for foodie fanatics. Take a pinch of the freshest air, the finest land and cleanest oceans and mix it up with the finest quality meats, indigenous herbs, hand-picked botanicals, freshly grown fruit, organic vegetables and you’ve the makings of one giant kitchen that caters to every taste imaginable.

Following an AA Awards secret inspection to Killeavy Castle Estate, the venue has just been named an AA four-star hotel in recognition of the exemplary offering at the Estate. Following its first AA inspection, the restaurant has been awarded two AA rosettes for ‘Culinary Excellence’, further acknowledging the quality of Killeavy Castle Estate’s food and drink offering.

Eats and Beats Saturday 3 –  Sunday 4 September 2022

Our Giant Adventures Calendar now includes the new Eats and Beats festival on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September in Newcastle, Co Down set against the magnificent backdrop of the Mourne Mountains. The Eats and Beats festival weekend will bring you the best in local and world food and music, featuring three music stages providing around 40 free performances and fringe events.