Meal Ticket: The Long Dock, Carrigaholt, Clare

The Long Dock is a gem at the heart of Loop Head and the perfect stopping-off point en route to climb the lighthouse over Clare’s spectacular cliffs. As you’d hope in this part of the world (but not always find), the seafood selection is spectacular.

One a recent visit we got stuck into a massive bowl of mussels in a delicious wine and garlic sauce (€9.95); great, meaty crab claws (€13.95); a surf and turf that delivered loads of flavour and great value at €19.95; and a rich, creamy seafood pie hiding beneath a pillowy mash top (€14.95).

The daily specials are much more adventurous then we were on this visit. The cosy bar setting and roaring fire was the perfect antidote to one of those early summer days that delivered all four seasons in one. This is one worth making a lengthy detour for.