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The latest St Patrick's Day novelty? Shamrock-flavoured crisps The latest St Patrick's Day novelty? Shamrock-flavoured crisps
(7 months later)
For Irish people living in Britain, or anyone who just wants to be Irish for 24 hours, there is a novel way to celebrate St Patrick's Day this weekend – shamrock-flavoured crisps.For Irish people living in Britain, or anyone who just wants to be Irish for 24 hours, there is a novel way to celebrate St Patrick's Day this weekend – shamrock-flavoured crisps.
With the Irish influx to the UK already under way for the Cheltenham festival, a farming family from County Dublin has shipped over 250,000 bags of their shamrock and sour cream crisps, which have gone on sale in 700 Tesco stores.With the Irish influx to the UK already under way for the Cheltenham festival, a farming family from County Dublin has shipped over 250,000 bags of their shamrock and sour cream crisps, which have gone on sale in 700 Tesco stores.
The Keoghs, who have grown potatoes for more than 200 years at their farm in Oldtown, have also received orders for their St Patrick's Day crisps from Selfridges.The Keoghs, who have grown potatoes for more than 200 years at their farm in Oldtown, have also received orders for their St Patrick's Day crisps from Selfridges.
The family has sourced their shamrock from the same County Kerry firm, LivingShamrock, that supplies a bowl of the three-leafed sprigs to the White House for the annual celebrations on 17 March. Every year an Irish dignitary, usually a taoiseach or a senior diplomat, presents the US president with a bowl of shamrock on St Patrick's Day.The family has sourced their shamrock from the same County Kerry firm, LivingShamrock, that supplies a bowl of the three-leafed sprigs to the White House for the annual celebrations on 17 March. Every year an Irish dignitary, usually a taoiseach or a senior diplomat, presents the US president with a bowl of shamrock on St Patrick's Day.
Tom Keough, the director of the firm producing the crisps, said they "sleep, eat and breathe potatoes".Tom Keough, the director of the firm producing the crisps, said they "sleep, eat and breathe potatoes".
The firm had tried to experiment with shamrock and garlic but decided on sour cream because it tasted better as a combination, he said.The firm had tried to experiment with shamrock and garlic but decided on sour cream because it tasted better as a combination, he said.
"It wasn't nice enough on its own, while a number of combinations didn't work either until we joined it with sour cream. It just worked; we knew straight away.""It wasn't nice enough on its own, while a number of combinations didn't work either until we joined it with sour cream. It just worked; we knew straight away."
The business has invented other crisp varieties, including roast beef and Dungarvan Irish stout; Dubliner Irish cheese and onion; and Atlantic sea salt and Irish cider vinegar.The business has invented other crisp varieties, including roast beef and Dungarvan Irish stout; Dubliner Irish cheese and onion; and Atlantic sea salt and Irish cider vinegar.
The Irish links with the potato are so strong that a farmer north of the border has brought back a variety which has not been around since the 19th century potato famine.The Irish links with the potato are so strong that a farmer north of the border has brought back a variety which has not been around since the 19th century potato famine.
Michael McKillop, from Glens of Antrim Potatoes, in Cushendall, has taken the last five years to revive the Lumper potato, which failed in the middle of the 19th century resulting in more than a million deaths, with millions more emigrating from Ireland.Michael McKillop, from Glens of Antrim Potatoes, in Cushendall, has taken the last five years to revive the Lumper potato, which failed in the middle of the 19th century resulting in more than a million deaths, with millions more emigrating from Ireland.
The Lumper had been a popular staple food as it grew easily in poor soil. But when the potato blight took hold in the 1840s, it largely disappeared from Ireland.The Lumper had been a popular staple food as it grew easily in poor soil. But when the potato blight took hold in the 1840s, it largely disappeared from Ireland.
McKillop said he was attracted by the spud as he wanted to offer a more unusual choice, and found it had a pleasing taste. Its texture and flavour is described as halfway between a waxy Jersey Royal, and more floury varieties like the King Edward.McKillop said he was attracted by the spud as he wanted to offer a more unusual choice, and found it had a pleasing taste. Its texture and flavour is described as halfway between a waxy Jersey Royal, and more floury varieties like the King Edward.
Meanwhile other unusual ways in which Ireland's national saint will be celebrated this weekend include dying the Chicago River's waters green and lighting up Egypt's pyramids in the same colour as part of a light show. The Queen has turned down a request to colour Buckingham Palace green for the day despite her successful and historic visit to Ireland two years ago.Meanwhile other unusual ways in which Ireland's national saint will be celebrated this weekend include dying the Chicago River's waters green and lighting up Egypt's pyramids in the same colour as part of a light show. The Queen has turned down a request to colour Buckingham Palace green for the day despite her successful and historic visit to Ireland two years ago.
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