Speaking as one who grew up in Ireland, I would like to make a few facts clear. Bacon and cabbage were the usual miday meal. Beef was hardly ever eaten as cattle were usually bred for the milk and were then sold for the meat which was probably exported. Butter and cheese were made from the cream. Turkey was hardly ever eaten as again they were reared for sale. Hens were kept for the eggs and for eating on the rare occasion. Christmas dinner was usually a goose. Christmas Eve was regarded as a "fast day" and boiled fish with potatoes and white sauce was served. The fish was if I recall correctly was hake. Most farmers kept pigs one of which was usually killed for meat. It was a job normally done by one of the farm hands. Not for the squeamish as the animal was held down and its throat cut with the blood being collected for the making of home made black pudding. It was then salted and cured. Before the introduction of myxamotosis there were plenty of wild rabbits and they were usually caught in snares or traps and one rabbit could provide a meal for four to five people.In the late forties the demand for rabbits rocketed as the British market wanted them. Organised groups of lads used to hunt them at night and catch hundreds. They were sold for something for about ten shillings (50p) each. Fortunes were made at the time.I recall seeing something like five hundred hanging up at a collection point. Trout were numerous in the rivers and were a tasty addition. Bread (called "cake") was baked at home using brown flour, buttermilk and bread soda (sodium bicarbonate). For very special occasions a white loaf would be bought in the local shop. Sausages and black pudding are quite different. On the odd time a salmon would find its way on to the table not always legally. I remember seeing one as a child which was bigger than I was then. Incidentally a genuine Cork City dish is "drisheen." For those not rich enough to keep pigs or cows, goats were a great alternative and also provided milk and meat. Old goats were never killed. That privilege was confined to the young animal. For health food addicts, goats milks is regarded as more beneficial than cows milk and can be drunk where there may be allergy to cows milk. Hope folk can plough through the above.