When in Ireland, eat as the Irish do.  Ireland is not only famous for its castles, museums, and music.  One must simply try out their traditional and popular dishes.  Locally grown crops and animals have influenced the Irish cuisine.  Popular dishes include potatoes and beef.  For starters, try out four of their tasty meals.

Irish Breakfast

No tourist should leave the Irish shores without trying the famous Irish breakfast which can either be a grilled or fried meal consisting of bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, black and white pudding.  Sometimes, this is served with fried potato slices called fried potato farls, brown soda bread, and liver.  Black tea and milk go best with this hearty meal.

Boxty

One traditional Irish dish popular in the north midlands is called Boxty which is a kind of potato cake.  There are many recipes for Boxty but all includes fried finely grated potatoes.  A popular version includes buttermilk, mashed potato with flour, and baking soda.  This is readily available in shops in pancake or dumpling form.

Ulster Fry

Tourists in Northern Ireland should try out the Ulster Fry.  Traditionally, this sumptuous dish fried in lard consists of eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, potato bread, and farl form of soda bread.  The sausages can either be pork or beef.

Colcannon

Colcannon means white headed cabbage in Irish.  This simple dish is a mixture of cabbage or curly kale, wild garlic, mashed potatoes, butter, salt and pepper.  Sometimes other ingredients are combined with Irish bacon or boiled ham, leeks, milk, cream, and onions.