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Bog & Thunder

Bog & Thunder is an eco-travel and tourism company highlighting the best of Irish food & culture.

29/09/2026

Max and I rarely (if ever!) have the time or opportunity to get away for a long weekend on our own, so we jumped at the chance to book a long weekend .house in Donegal this past May. We went in confident that we would love it, and really, what more could you want than a stunning house inspired by the landscape in a breathtaking location? And yet it still somehow exceeded our high expectations: the impeccable breakfasts filled with tiny hyperlocal treats (the variety!) delivered via a magical portal in the wall; the thoughtful picnic lunches packed in backpacks to encourage hikes and daily adventures; the sauna and the seaweed bath; and that view! We went on hikes, had picnics, ate breakfast in bed, and tried our best to unwind. Kate also tried bar shampoo for the first time and didn’t hate it. Who knew?

Owners Cathrine and Niall are masters of hospitality, and manage to achieve the perfect balance of giving guests the privacy they need for an much-needed escape alongside the feeling that all of your needs have been anticipated and taken care of so you don’t want for anything. We hope to go back and experience all of the seasons!

28/04/2026

What can we say about the weather in Ireland? Most visitors arrive in Ireland expecting grey skies and lots of rain, with brief sunny spells and the occasional glimpse of a rainbow. For the life of me, I can’t help but find myself saying, “I know what the forecast says, but we usually luck out with the weather”—and immediately cringe at the thought that I’ve just jinxed myself. And yet! Time and time again, we’re gifted with glorious, sunny spells and temperate days, as though we’ve communed with the gods for perfectly timed windows of bliss.

While the rain can be a mixed blessing—especially for farmers—we’re grateful for these picture perfect days when they do appear. Here are some shots from a solo trip I took to Waterford last year over the summer solstice, when the sunshine was absolutely resplendent along the Ardmore Cliff Walk.

25/04/2026

As foodies, we’re all so enamored by the stories behind what’s on our plate—from where each ingredient was sourced (Who grew this? Who picked this?) to where it fits in the narrative of the place where we are eating. But what about the parts of the animals and vegetables that get left behind? Reducing food waste is not a novel concept, and it feels quite trendy right now. But how practical is it, and how much is it really being done?

Our guest on our latest episode is , a chef, author, and activist whose work revolves around how to reduce the noise created by our industrial food system so chefs and consumers have the practical knowledge they need to make informed food choices. Spacey is the culinary director of Food Space, a catering business that helps companies create healthy and sustainable food programs for their employees, and the author of a cookbook called Wasted, whose recipes focus on the most wasted food products in the common kitchen.

On the show, we speak with Conor about policy solutions to problems in the food system; developing relationships with the people who grow your food; and our experiences being vegan and vegetarian. We also talk about how to meet people where they are at when discussing critical issues like the scourge of food waste at restaurants and at home; why we should all eat more plant-based foods; and—Kate’s favorite—the horrors of salmon farming.

24/04/2026

Towards the end of our recent tour, our group found ourselves within sight of all of the places we had visited the week prior, a trip that coalesced into a celebration of the places Tim Robinson called the ABC of earth wonders: Connemara, where we smoked fish; Inis Oírr where we planted potatoes; Galway where we ate, drank, and enjoyed live music; and the Burren, where the complexity of the land really drove home the concept of terroir we had immersed ourselves in all week. Max may believe in coincidences, but I believe our group manifested this moment. We were blessed with guests who were all visiting Ireland for the first time, and I think it’s safe to say we were all changed by our collective experience. We’re grateful for all of the laughter, the new friendships, and the memories! Special thanks to for being open to this experience and trusting in our shared vision. Looking forward to future travels, bagel burgers, and copious amounts of ch*****ne!

11/04/2026

Hey it’s Kate and Max! We’re in Galway about to kick off this year’s tour season. Over a delicious lunch at (kimchi fried rice, pear upside down cake, and a side of jet lag), we started to reminisce over the last 6 years of leading tours here. One of our favorite parts of this job is getting to meet new friends and introduce them to Ireland. For many people that come on our trips it’s their first experience in the country. For others they may not have visited for many years. Still others have been here many times but want to dig a little deeper. Our greatest joy is to show people a different side of Ireland no matter their past experience. We can’t wait to meet everyone who will be joining us in 2026!

17/03/2026

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! Revisiting some of our favorite pints with favorite friends around the island today ☘️❤️✨

09/03/2026

Looking forward to getting my feet wet as we kick off the 2026 travel season. This is our biggest season yet—we’ll be in Donegal, Belfast, West Cork, and everywhere in between . We have two chef tour collaborations, a reunion, a new location for our WNW retreat, and a brand new memoir writing workshop. Check out our website at bogandthunder.com to see how you might join us!
here in Roundstone/Slieve Gullion/Glandore

20/02/2026

Announcing the 4th annual Writing the Next World retreat! Join Bog & Thunder alongside writer/podcasters adrienne maree brown & Autumn Brown this summer for a soul nourishing writing retreat in the wilds of West Cork. Come ideate, experiment with genre, and find a writing voice that creates more possibilities for our collective future, all while exploring coastal Ireland and eating outstanding food. This 5 day event is rooted in the lineages of visionary and speculative fiction and Black feminist praxis. We will have a beautiful balance of private writing time, collective world-building with fellow artists, practical skill development, and local adventure.

We are prioritizing applications from participants who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color. We will have a very limited number of partial scholarships available. Link in bio for application!

08/01/2026

We’re easing into the new year and taking some time to reflect on 2025 as we look towards a number of exciting things we have planned for 2026. Here’s but a glimpse of our favorite moments from last year!

1. Our international pop-ups with
2. pizza pop-up at
3. ’s panel at the Autumn School
4. Smoking fish & sipping amaro at Traditions of the Sea course
5. Meeting the man, the myth, the legend (now former) President Michael D. Higgins
6. Skipping rocks in Castletownshend with our kids
7. Celebrating birthdays, friendship, covens, & love at
8. Seaweed foraging in Roundstone with
9. Enjoying a bountiful seafood lunch at home
10. A behind-the-scenes tour of

16/12/2025

We’re thrilled to announce a new writing retreat focused on memoir and food & travel writing with New York Times bestselling writer and author of Care and Feeding, Laurie Woolever.

For nearly a decade, Laurie was the lieutenant to the late author, TV host and producer Anthony Bourdain.She has written for the New York Times, Vogue, GQ, Food & W**e, Rolling Stone, Saveur, Bloomberg, Dissent, Roads & Kingdoms, and others. She completed the training program at the French Culinary Institute. Woolever is currently working on a Basque-Spanish cookbook with chef Ryan Bartlow.

We can’t imagine a better co-host for this 5-night all-inclusive retreat. Laurie will be leading daily workshops on everything from recipe writing to the purpose and function of food and travel writing, as well as 1 on 1 feedback sessions. Whether you’re a writer looking to enter the food and travel space or an experienced writer looking to hone your craft and point of view, this workshop will have something to offer.

Our retreat takes place on a small private island in the heart of West Cork, Ireland’s food artisan capital. The idyllic setting includes trails, gardens, woods, and shore, and is perfect for a quiet and meaningful time spent writing and learning. We’ll indulge in local food cooked by incredible chefs and enjoy 50 acres of woodland walks, a walled garden, and an indoor pool while we work on our writing. This experience is limited to just 12 writers, and will book fast so book your spot today!

Care and Feeding / September 20-25 / West Cork, Ireland

Find out more at www.bogandthunder.com/care-and-feeding or click the link in bio.

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