Neven’s Irish Seafood Trails visits Mayo

NEVEN Maguire is back travelling around Ireland, meeting some of the producers and chefs who are responsible for the country's great seafood reputation.

On Wednesday, January 19, Neven’s Irish Seafood Trails will visit Mayo and Galway.

At Sharamore House in Connemara, he starts the day with a hearty fish breakfast called The Sharamore Special, an innovative take on Eggs Benedict, consisting of smoked pollock, spinach and a potato cake, topped with lemon sauce.

Owners John and Sue Brittain show Neven the recipe, using a pollock caught by John. Keen to catch some fish also, Neven joins John for an angling trip to the east end of Inishbofin where the scenery is breathtaking.

From the coast Neven heads inland to Lough Corrib, and the pier at Ashford Castle Hotel. Here he meets ghillie Frank Costello who takes him on a trout fishing trip and teaches him the technique of ‘dapping’, that allows only the fly to touch the water.

At 44,000 square acres,(176 square km), Lough Corrib is the biggest lake in the Republic of Ireland which Frank expertly navigates on wooden boats he builds himself. After their trip, on a small lake island, Frank shows Neven how to cook a trout on an outdoor fire.

After a day of adventure on the water, Neven retreats to the stunning 800-year-old castle and meets executive chef Philippe Farineau who shares a mouth-watering recipe for Black Sole Meunière, prepared with a generous dash of cider.

Neven’s own recipe on the show is an Irish Hake Curry, a tasty way to cook fish.

The programme - part three in the new series - airs on Wednesday, January 19, on RTÉ One at 8.30 p.m.