A Journey Through Irish Food and Literature: TU Dublin Celebrates World Book and Copyright Day
Today on World Book and Copyright Day, TU Dublin join’s a global celebration of the enduring joy and importance of books. Held annually on 23rd April and led by UNESCO, the day honours authors, publishers, educators, librarians, and readers, reflecting on how books act as bridges between generations, cultures, and eras.
At TU Dublin, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on a recent publication that exemplifies the rich intersection of research, storytelling, and cultural heritage: Irish Food History: A Companion (EUt+ Academic Press; Royal Irish Academy, 2024). This landmark volume, co-edited by Dr Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman, has garnered acclaim for its innovative fusion of expertise, storytelling, and sensory history. The book was awarded an An Post Book Award in 2024 and is available both in beautifully designed hardback from the Royal Irish Academy and free open access online.
Dr Mac Con Iomaire, Chair of the MA Gastronomy and Food Studies and senior lecturer at the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology at TU Dublin, is no stranger to the cultural significance of the written word. A dedicated scholar and co-founder of the Dublin Gastronomy Symposium, he has long explored the intersections of food, literature, and identity in Irish culture. His past editorial collaborations — from Tickling the Palate to the Canadian Journal of Irish Studies; have spotlighted food not just as sustenance, but as a central narrative in Irish life.
Irish Food History: A Companion is the result of over a decade of research at TU Dublin and the shared vision of its editors, who reached out during the COVID-19 pandemic to gather contributions from across disciplines and institutions. The volume includes 28 chapters from more than 31 contributors, covering Irish food from prehistoric times to the present. It’s peppered with poetry, songs, and recipes from literary figures like Seamus Heaney, Paula Meehan, and Raiftearaí, creating a sensory journey through Ireland’s past and present.
In the spirit of World Book Day, which celebrates the power of the written word to connect, inspire, and transform, Dr Mac Con Iomaire and Ms Cashman continue to build on their work. The pair are currently co-editing a special issue of the European Journal of Food, Drink and Society on the theme of Irish Food History, which will expand on new research that emerged post-publication of the Companion. Set to release in June 2025, the issue will be freely available via TU Dublin’s Arrow Platform.
As readers around the world celebrate innovation, imagination, and identity, we are delighted to showcase how research and innovation at TU Dublin continue to shape and enrich our cultural landscape; bridging the gap between academic research and everyday life – demonstrating the powerful role of literature and the humanities in understanding who we are and where we come from.
To learn more about the Irish Food History: A Companion, listen to Dr Mac Con Iomaire and Host Jonny Dillon on the Blúiríní Béaloidis Folklore Podcast – Episode 41 published on the 2nd of April 2025.