Entertainment In Knock

The area around Knock is certainly not known for its entertainment and cuisine. Most visitors only spend a short time in Knock and there are a considerable number of pilgrims. Don't expect a lively nightlife or smart restaurants.

Eating out

The choice of restaurants in Knock is limited, so a good option is to eat in a local pub. Many pubs provide bar meals, known locally as pub grub, and lunches that usually consist of meat and two veg, with plenty of potatoes and gravy. You can usually get sandwiches and good homemade soups. A few pubs offer a la carte selections in the evening. Irish food generally has a high meat content which is often roasted or fried. It can become a little tiring after a while, even if you're not a vegetarian. However, the meat is usually of a good standard, especially the steak and lamb. If you're staying in a B&B, you'll most likely have a traditional breakfast of sausage, eggs and bacon which is often accompanied by delicious soda bread.

Local cuisine

Many traditional dishes in the rural parts of Ireland are based on sizeable quantities of potato, often in several different forms in the same meal. Potato cakes are made from flour and potato dough which is then fried in butter, and can be very tasty. The potato soup is also very popular. Colcannon is made up of cooked potatoes fried in butter with onions and cabbage. Other traditional food includes barm brack, a sweet yeast bread with spices and dried fruits, and of course, Irish stew. Carrot cake can generally be found in coffee shops and tea rooms.

Essential national drinks worth trying are a range of whiskies such as Old Bushmills, Jamesons, Tullamore Dew and John Powers. Meanwhile, Baileys and Irish Mist Liqueurs are both made from a base of Irish whisky. Guinness, one of the most famous and popular drinks in the world, can be found everywhere.

Theatre and music

Virtually every village in Ireland has a festival of some kind ever year, many centred around either the June or August public holidays. They are usually great fun, with music and dancing in the streets and bars. It is quite common to find pubs holding seisun (sessions), which are informal gatherings of musicians playing Irish music with traditional instruments. They are spontaneous musical events and the songs are from a tradition of Irish dance music that dates back about 300 years. The instruments often include accordions, flutes, fiddles, mandolins and banjos. There is no theatre available around the Knock area.

Shopping

The only shopping likely to be of interest to visitors is in the gift shops at the shrine and the folk museum. If you are travelling to other areas then look out for hand-woven tweed, hand-crocheted woollens and cottons, sheepskin goods, pottery, Irish crystal and basketry.