No matter what age you are, there’s nothing quite like a delicious ice cream to conjure up a summer mood. Here’s our top pick of the best ice cream to try in Ireland – whatever the weather …
Sunny weather or not, eating ice cream is officially a summer pastime, along with enjoying salty chips and flaky fish. When the urge strikes, this is where to go to scratch the ice cream itch.
Dae Ice Cream Scoop Shop, St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Dublin 2
Plant-based, gluten free and nut free – Dae ice cream is for everyone. Originally started as a lockdown project by chef Conor Sweeny, Dae started life as Leamhain (named after the river that flows through Killorglin). Losing his job as a chef in a fine dining restaurant in London resulted in a move back to Ireland and the germination of a new business idea. Dae supplies ice cream sandwiches countrywide and has a scoop shop in Dublin city serving an array of flavours. Sticky toffee pudding ice cream anyone?
www.daeicecream.com
Jesk, Kinsale
No seaside resort is complete without an old school ice cream parlour and in sunny Kinsale, Jesk is where you want to visit. Ice cream cookie sandwiches, waffles, crepes, old fashioned cones or zingy sorbets, Jesk has it all. The queues outside on a sunny Saturday are a good sign but the clever folk at Jesk also have a mobile ice cream stand in Market Square too on busy days. instagram.com/jeskofkinsale
Twenty Three Ice Cream Lab, Drury Street, Dublin 2
The summer 2023 menu at Twenty Three Ice Cream Lab in Dublin city reads like an ice cream lover’s dream. Flavours such as chocolate s’more, creme brulee, Harry’s Nutbutter and tiramisu make choosing virtually impossible and the ten-year-old deep (deep) inside me still can’t quite get over the fact that I can have as much chocolate ice cream topped with marshmallow fluff as my little heart desires. Finally, being a grown-up has its benefits. www.threetwenty.ie
Linnalla Ice Cream, New Quay, Co Clare
Artisan ice cream from a herd of shorthorn dairy cows on the Finaverra peninsula? Hard yes to that, thank you very much. Linnalla Ice Cream is made on the family farm of Roger and Brid Fahey and served at their Café Linnalla on the Flaggy Shore in Co Clare. It’s all about the scoops at Linnalla with many flavours containing foraged gorse, blackberries, sloes and hazelnuts and ‘80s kids will appreciate the retro Knickerbocker Glory or a classic banana split. There are smoothies and milkshakes too but why mess with perfection? www.linnallaicecream.ie
Scoop, various locations
It’s hard to miss Scoop in any of its locations with its colourful frontage that beckons you inside, like a beacon calling out to you. Especially on a sunny day. There are crepes, waffles and sundaes but I’m here for the gelato. More specifically, the Irish sea salt caramel gelato. Or the strawberry sorbetto. Or the mango sorbetto? Best just to get a box so… With locations in Ranelagh, Aungier Street, Sandymount and Clontarf, there are no excuses not to try Scoop this summer. www.scoopgelato.ie
Other icy temptations includes Teddy’s in Dun Laoghaire (of course), Lick gelato in Newcastle, Co Down, any of the excellent Murphy’s Ice Cream outposts, and of course, the brilliant Scúp Gelato from Wexford which you can find at various locations, including Avoca. www.scupgelato.com