St.Patrick's own diet a long way from corn beef, cabbage and Guinness

Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 04:49 AM

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It is highly unlikely St.Patrick ever snacked on corn beef or cabbage or downed a pint of Guinness.

But a new study shows what the Irish patron saint probably ate in the Fifth Century.

His diet consisted of a mix of dairy, cheeses, cereals, porridge, gruel, eggs, honey, seaweed and fish, according to an expert.

Culinary historian Regina Sexton, of University College Cork, has discovered what the the diet available in fifth-century Ireland was.

Remember this was centuries before that strange crop the potato was introduced from the Andes.

“From May onwards, the diet was very much dominated by dairy produce. It was incredible, such profound skills were developed making all sorts of wonderful creations from milk right up until the time the potato was universally adopted.”

So a St Patrick Irish breakfast would have been oatmeal and eggs, not a million miles from what many eat today, with cheese and corn for dinner washed down with milk and maybe a glass of honey wine in the evening.

Might become a fad diet one day!

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gaelshults | Apr 06, 2011, 02:24 PM EDT

Corn means "grain or kernel"in orthodox English. As in the Old English song "John Barleycorn". Americans use the term corn to describe maize -what the Indians ate. These might help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barleycorn http://www.word-origins.com/definition/corn.html

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emer333 | Mar 28, 2011, 11:02 PM EDT

Corn? I agree with sorxia02144, a corn was introduced by American Indians much later. I do believe he would have eaten many nuts and berries, apples and various fruits when available. Of course early in his visit to Eire as a slave, he would have eaten less. Later in the life of Padraig included Feasts with meat at least 4 times a year. Feb, May, August, and November.

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sorxia02144 | Mar 25, 2011, 01:42 PM EDT

I doubt he ate corn. That's from the New World, which hadn't been "discovered" in the fifth century.

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chesapeake | Mar 24, 2011, 12:20 PM EDT

Sounds like my wife's latest diet

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maybell | Mar 17, 2011, 07:14 PM EDT

any available goodlooking men in ireland? call me 469-593-6646

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maybell | Mar 17, 2011, 07:13 PM EDT

that sounds yummy