11/02/2026
No.37
"I’m originally from Crossmaglen and my husband is from Limerick. He was working in Dublin and I was working in Belfast, so Dundalk suited us perfectly, being halfway between the two and was still close to home for me. We’ve been here now for the last 20 years and we haven't once looked back. I love living here.
I’m a big foodie. There’s a great food culture in Dundalk, though it doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. We are surrounded by fantastic restaurants and producers, but many are hidden gems.
We set up the Dundalk Food and Drink Society to raise awareness of the amazing local talents and delicious foods we have in the area. We currently have about 40 members, but we’re always open to more. We meet producers to learn about their processes and host other events. It’s all about bringing people together to taste different foods, have a laugh, and experience things they might not normally come across.
At the moment Dundalk has a really strong breakfast and brunch scene. If you’re after a good fry-up, you can’t go wrong with Ma Brady’s. There are loads of great coffee shops that have sprung up over the last few years. I often find myself at Panama, though I recently visited The Rabbit Hole, and it was really nice. It was a big loss to Dundalk when The Townhouse and The Food House closed, but places like The Square, The Spotted Dog, and Jocelyn One are thriving.
We’re also lucky to have excellent Chinese and Indian restaurants. Sitar is unbelievable and has become very popular lately and A91 Street Food in the Spirit Store is amazing. The bar culture in Dundalk is also fantastic and you’d be proud to bring visitors to some of the local pubs.
I think we need to celebrate what we have here more. It’s all about raising awareness of what’s on our doorstep, such as local institutions like McCormick's red pudding and The Home Bakery’s pink slice."
Sarah Jane McGrath
