Raglan Road Pub

Saturday my daughter and I were invited to experience Raglan Road Pub’s Great Irish Hooley, or celebration. Nestled between Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island and Marketplace, the Great Irish Hooley is central Florida’s first boutique Irish festival, taking place from Friday to Monday this Labor Day weekend.

Raglan Road Pub is always a favorite for my family, featuring great food mixed with authentic Irish musicians and dancers throughout the day and night. The Great Irish Hooley enhanced all of that fun, with more bands, more dancing and lessons, and of course, great food – with no cover charge. It was wonderful to learn the stories behind the Irish dances being demonstrated along with the music and edible delights!

Here are some photo highlights of our experience on Saturday:

Irish Dancers and me — Anyone can dance!

Irish Dancers — Irish dancing demonstration outside Raglan Road for the festival

Raglan Road Beer Flight — One of the Raglan Road beer flights available for tasting

Lobster Club with peas — Lobster Club – Lobster & avocado salad, crispy prosciutto, watercress & citrus herb mayonnaise.

Beef Curry Pie — Beef Murray – Beef curry pie with spinach, potatoes, mushrooms & apple chutney.

Shepard's Pie — Keen eye for the Shepherd’s Pie – my daughter had this and loved it.

Raglan Risotto – Risotto with shiitake mushrooms, garden peas, shaved parmesan & rocket lettuce. You can add chicken or shrimp but I had it without and it was delicious!

Cashel Castle salad — Cashel Castle – Crumbled Cashel blue cheese, carmelized pecans, grape tomatoes, raspberries, prosciutto crisps, crostini’s & raspberry vinaigrette. You can add chicken or shrimp.

Chicken fingers and chips Raglan Road — Chicken fingers and chips – not on the menu, but on the kids menu with 2 fingers, just ask your server!

Appetizer Sampler Raglan Road — An appetizer sampler brought out for our table – Scallop Forest – Georges Bank Scallops in a golden batter served with citrus lime dipping sauce & sweet chili jam. Heaven on Earth – Baby back ribs tossed in a Guinness glaze. Nom Nom Wings – Sweet ‘n spicy wings tossed in a honey, chili flake, soy & ginger sauce. Dalkey Duo – Battered cocktail sausages with a Dalkey mustard dipping sauce

Kiss Before Prawns – Pan seared prawns in a garlic & chili lemon butter sauce with crostinis.

Tart Art goat cheese tart with asparagus and peas – delicious!

Irish Soda Bread with sweet Guinness dipping sauce

Jay'Gail Sangria — Jay’Gail Sangria – A refreshing blend of Magners Cider, Peach Schnapps and Fruit Liqueurs & squeezes.

Inside Raglan Road — I love the stained glass inside Raglan Road!

An Irish dancer on the raised stage in the middle of Raglan Road

And here is a quick video of one of the Irish dancing demonstrations taking place during the Hooley:

The Great Irish Hooley is still going on now through Monday, September 3 – check out performance times at TheGreatIrishHooley.com and more information and menus at RaglanRoad.com. Special thanks again to Raglan Road Pub and Disney for providing lunch for my daughter and I.

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.
—On Raglan Road, Patrick Kavanaugh

This popular Irish poem was in turn made into a song which many have covered, perhaps none so well as Luke Kelley‘s original. Such a beautiful song crafted from words that sweep you up and place you in another time…

One half of my mother’s side is from Ireland, County Leitrim and also the Isle of Man, so I’m told. Growing up where I did in Massachusetts, you were pretty much Irish or Italian for the most part (and I married an Italian). So Irish culture, customs and history have always been a part of my childhood and interests. I’d love to trace my ancestry and of course visit the beautiful countryside that Ireland is known for.

That said, the cooking going on at Raglan Road Pub in Downtown Disney, is nothing like my grandmother used to make. (Thank goodness!) Nan was known for boiling pretty much everything she prepared, and seasonings were never to be found. But we cleaned our plates every holiday in her house – we knew better than to complain! Raglan Road Pub, by comparison, takes some of the great dishes Ireland is known for and puts a gourmet twist to their preparation, leaving you satisfied and planning your next visit back.

This was our family’s second visit, the first time being a few years prior. We loved it then, but our children’s palates were going through a particularly picky phase, so we held off returning until now. Both of the older children had a wonderful time this visit and it’s now a favorite among all of us. I’d like to share some of our favorites from Raglan Road’s creations with you:

Continue Reading about Raglan Road >>

Photo Highlights From Raglan Road Pub’s First “Great Hooley” Celebration

On Raglan Road…A Little Bit O’ Dublin in Orlando