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Coffee in Kildare – Creating Community
Oak & Oolite has a new group: Coffee in Kildare. Coffee in Kildare is a space for connection, conversation, and having a laugh over a good cup of coffee. If you’ve been following the blog for a while you may have read that after returning to Ireland from living abroad…
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Easter Walk, Leixlip, Co. Kildare
Join us for the next walk in St. Catherine’s Park, Leixlip on Easter Sunday the 5th of April, at 10.30 am. The park entrance is on Black Avenue and if you follow this road to the car park (eircode: 9G9G+6F) we can meet there. It is a great spot full…
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Coffee in Kildare – Café Spotlight: The Woodstack Café
There is no better café to highlight for the International Day of Forests, on the 21st of March, than The Woodstack Café in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. This year’s theme of the International Day of Forests is forests and economies which aims to celebrate the essential roles of forests in driving…
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From Shepherd to Bishop: St. Patrick in His Own Words
Much of the popular legend surrounding Saint Patrick stems from two clerical writers in the 7th century – Tírechán and Muirchú. St. Patrick did exist but they wrote about him 2 centuries later. Their aim was to glorify his memory and advance the prestige of the church of Armagh, rather…
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Kildare’s Prehistoric Landscape: Standing Stones
What is a Standing Stone? A standing stone, otherwise known as a long stone or menhir1 (gallán, dallán, líagán), is a single upright stone that has been deliberately placed into the ground. Standing stones are a type of megalithic monument2 often used for ritual, ceremonial, or funerary purposes. They vary…
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Gluten-Free Delights at The Chocolate Garden of Ireland
On Saturday, it was the February meet-up for the Oak & Oolite Book Club and as the book chosen was Joanne Harris’ Chocolat, I decided it might be nice to get some chocolates to enjoy through our coffee and afternoon chat about the book. As a coeliac, I had to…
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Discover Nature’s Wild Foods: 15 Favourite Foraging Books
Let’s jump into spring with some foraging! 🌱🌸☀️ I only recently became interested in foraging, as you may have seen when I made acorn tea last autumn. I have a local course lined up for next month, so I’m excited about this new road and learning as I go. Below…
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Coffee in Kildare – Roastery Spotlight: Feighcullen Peated Coffee
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit a pretty unique coffee bean roastery in County Kildare, Feighcullen Peated Coffee. Set up in 2024 by landowner Richard and his uncle, it really stands out as one of Ireland’s most distinctive roasteries. Richard, who comes from a farming and hydraulics…
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March Walk: Monasterevin, Co. Kildare
Join us for a spring forest walk in the Moore Abbey Woods, on Sunday the 8th of March, at 10.30 am. Arrive earlier at 10.15 am if you fancy a quick tea or coffee in the Woodstack Café before we set out on our walk. All are welcome. Please dress…
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Tea for Two… Or Just You: Flavours to Fall For on St. Valentine’s Day
Love comes in many forms, and one of the simplest is the love of a perfect cup of tea. What could be better than enhancing the experience with complementary flavours? Here is a list of teas and beautiful pairings to prepare for your loved one. Of course, any tea can…
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Imbolc: Foods of the Festival
It’s St. Brigid’s Day – Imbolc, the start of spring. 🌱 St. Brigid’s Day, the 1st of February Today St Brigid’s Day is marked as a mix of Christian and older seasonal and pagan traditions. Many people make St Brigid’s crosses from rushes, visit holy wells, or leave a Brat…
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Coffee in Kildare – Café Spotlight: Square, Kildare Town
Today, on St. Brigid’s Eve, I walked the Curragh in Co. Kildare as part of the Kildare Leadership Partnership’s Walk the Mantle guided walk, led by the excellent Pat, Ronan, and Sharon. The rain eased just as we set off through the plains. For anyone unfamiliar with the Curragh, this…
