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Oak & Oolite – connecting to land, the past, flavour, and each other

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    Coffee in Kildare: PS Coffee Roasters

    Coffee in Kildare: PS Coffee Roasters

    PS Coffee Roasters, a coffee roastery with coffee shops in Naas and Clane in Co. Kildare, was founded in 2015 by Straffan natives, brothers Peter and Simon. During spring, I travelled out to their roastery in Kilcullen to chat with Simon. His passion was clear. As we spoke, he emphasised…

    21.05.2026
  • connection to flavour connection to land gluten-free wild foods
    Wild Food Ways: A Foraging Workshop in Kildare

    Wild Food Ways: A Foraging Workshop in Kildare

    Tomorrow, the 22nd April, is Earth Day, and it centres on a simple idea: that people are part of the land, not separate from it. So, I thought this would be the perfect time to highlight wild food foraging. Foraging puts people back into direct relationship with the land. It…

    21.04.2026
  • connection to flavour connection to land
    Coffee in Kildare – Café Spotlight: The Woodstack Café

    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…

    20.03.2026
  • connection to the past
    From Shepherd to Bishop: St. Patrick in His Own Words

    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…

    15.03.2026
  • connection to land connection to the past
    Kildare’s Prehistoric Landscape: Standing Stones

    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…

    10.03.2026
  • connection to flavour gluten-free
    Gluten-Free Delights at The Chocolate Garden of Ireland

    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…

    03.03.2026
  • connection to flavour connection to land oak & oolite books wild foods
    Discover Nature’s Wild Foods: 15 Favourite Foraging Books

    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…

    28.02.2026
  • connection to flavour connection to land
    Coffee in Kildare – Roastery Spotlight: Feighcullen Peated Coffee

    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…

    25.02.2026
  • connection to each other connection to flavour
    Tea for Two… Or Just You: Flavours to Fall For on St. Valentine’s Day

    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…

    11.02.2026
  • connection to land connection to the past
    Imbolc: Foods of the Festival

    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…

    01.02.2026
  • connection to land connection to flavour
    Coffee in Kildare – Café Spotlight: Square, Kildare Town

    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…

    31.01.2026
  • connection to flavour connection to land
    Kildare Food & Drink: Local Produce in Celbridge

    Kildare Food & Drink: Local Produce in Celbridge

    The list below features local food and drink producers in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Some of the produce listed is not actually sourced in Celbridge, but is available locally, such as the coffee beans that are roasted here. Farms Derrybeg Farm CSA Derrybeg Farm CSA is a community-supported agriculture project, where…

    26.01.2026
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