Restaurant/Travel/Critic/Columnist/Journalist Sunday Independent. Lucinda's Ireland Great Places to Stay & Eat. Judge- RAI: H&C Gold Medal Awards. No DMs please
Look out for our super red and gold star plaques Great Places to Eat 2024 & Great Places to Stay & Eat 2024 - which have just started winging their way countrywide this week to fabulous restaurants & hotels. We have a tremendous hospitality industry.
#GreatPlacesToStayAndEat2024
It is with deep sadness I tell you that our lovely Brendan slipped away from us yesterday.
Following a massive heart attack last December, he’d been under the gentle exemplary care of the Blackrock Hospice Home Care Team, whom myself, Aidan and Ian, just cannot thank enough.
He’s back where he belongs. A lady phoned at 7.30 and said she’d seen him in the doorstep of an empty house at top of our road on Friday. She only saw our posters this evening and there were two big foxes up there. We ran up and Ian found him up on a wall. Eventually .we got him
Inadequate men will attack, beat, belittle, bully, rape, and kill women. Confident men are caring, gentle, and will always encourage women to fly and flourish in whatever they do. The question is why do we seem to have so many inadequate men in our society?
#AislingMurphy
#RIP
The first morn in 9 I’ve woken up w/out a huge sense of foreboding nd with hope. Brendan had a massive heart attack last week, a lot of damage done.Yesterday we were told he was responding to treatment & I can’t thank his cardiologist enough
@ohanloncmr
and team
@BlackrockClinic
I’m glad the pressure of Christmas Day itself is over for everyone. Huge gap at the table. Hard to escape the ‘elephant in the room’. When I met Brendan it was instant across the room stuff and he presented me with a beautiful engagement ring 9 DAYS later.When you know, you know.
Another hard day - very cold in Deansgrange cemetery- but bright- and we had a very nice ceremony as we laid Brendan to rest in the family plot. Tonight we toast Brendan - as he would wish - he had such a tremendous joie de vivre.
Those of you who knew Brendan will be aware he was the kindest, most loving man, welcoming and honest, with a huge artistic talent and just the wickedest sense of humour and fun, which we will miss enormously in our lives.
“Be strong”, he told me. I’ll try. It’s hard.
As I lie in my warm bed I’m thinking- here’s to Ireland’s wonderful farmers who, hail, rain, sleet, snow or Covid, get up each morning at the crack of dawn to go and tend their animals. Where are you this morning and what are you doing? Send me a picture.
So sorry to hear that Little Fox in Ennistymon will not be re-opening. They certainly made their mark in Clare and I wish them all the best. Little seasonal restaurants are suffering and so vulnerable.
My mother got cancer when I was 15. I nursed her til she died 8 years later, my father dropping dead before that. An only child, it was very hard with no support, you learn to live with it but you never get over it.
@IrishCancerSoc
or call 1850 60 60 60
Restaurateurs do not need to explain or apologise to anyone their decisions as to whether they open or close for the short December period. They’ve been through enough and know what works for them now, We will support them as best we can.
#ignoreattenionseekers
#FoodiesFightBack
From mid November every year Brendan would have been making mince pies by the dozen - he made a fantastically fine pastry - including a gluten-free one for a friend - even after he had stroke 3 years ago. I cried when I came down to these yesterday morning.
#likefatherlikeson
These sadly are dark days for myself, Aidan & Ian, and I’m not looking forward to saying a final farewell to Brendan tomorrow. However our spirits are greatly lifted by the kindness of people, the hundreds of messages from all over the country from those who met him as we
Look guys, cut hospitality folk some slack. After a horrendous 18 months, they’re killing themselves doing their best to cope.I’m hearing of assholes whinging a b’fast tomato wasn’t cooked properly while another sent his steak tartare back because it wasn’t cooked! What a clown!
So this was my resturant at 8pm on a Saturday night in my small little independent restaurant done on a shoe string these are the tables of guests that decided to book 2 restaurants and not show even though they were confirmed... i don't think i can take much more HELP!
Remembering Brendan. Hard to believe it’s one year on since we lost him. We had good times, we had great times. He is ever loved and missed by us all. ‘Be strong, be as great as you always are.’he said. Not easy, but my friends have been wonderful throughout.16th November 2021.
We’re coming into the fifth month since my darling Brendan died. I still burst into tears when I see an ambulance. It’s not that the
@NationalAmbula1
weren’t wonderful and saved his life each time, it’s just the memories of how very very sick he was…
My cousin's son, aged around 22, diagnosed with cancer last week and facing 6 months chemo etc has been rushed into hospital tonight for an operation. Please pray for this young man who is being very brave.
I feel the ‘Christmas Box’ is going to take on a new meaning this year! Restaurants, anyone in biz, shld be thinking, rather than face crowds, ppl might want their prepped C’mas dinner delivered. I would also encourage ppl to give food gifts-boxes/sets in support of restaurants
Why am I thinking about France? Today would have been Brendan’s birthday. 3 months gone now. We loved our little trips around the North of France staying in different places each night and coming back and telling my
#Sindo
readers about great places to stay and eat. This pic was
I’m very angry to be told by a restaurateur, not the first, of misuse of my name. So, with restaurant/hotel bookings re-opened, I want to make it clear I never get, got, or authorised anyone in the past to make bookings in my name, or misuse my name in the course of their visits.
Croissants reminded me of all the wonderful times Brendan and I had driving the roads of France staying in a different place each night. Four weeks gone today. It’s felt like a whirlwind. Thank you to all our wonderful friends for their unwavering support.
#missingbrendan
Since Brendan’s death last week, we’ve been overwhelmed by the wonderful messages - cards, letters, tweets, RIP condolences, flowers, funeral attendees -all recalling his kindness, sense of humour and wit, which has bee a great consolation to myself, Aidan and Ian. Thank you to
We’re hearing of restaurant cancellations galore. I want my vax cert checked but I also want to know that all staff therein are also vaccinated. This I’m hearing is not the case-it would inspire customer confidence if restaurants declared their staff vax policy.
#nojabnojob
I'm thinking of the 100s of people I met over the 10 years I was writing my IRISH LIFE
#sindo
column who, having lost their jobs, took a flyer and bravely started small food businesses. Is this VAT increase their reward? Food got the country back on its feet.
#budget
#KeepVat9
Dear Brendan, you who loved Christmas so much, the reindeer is up, we’re doing our best, but where in God’s name did you hide your little notebook of addresses for Christmas cards! 😖😳😹😻
Today was my mother Evangeline’s birthday- the reason I chose to get married on June 2 - a tribute to her as she was already gone when I was too young - now Brendan’s gone - but I’ll lift a glass of Champagne to them both this evening.
Cold nights, simple suppers with one glass of red by blazing fire, as I can’t but reflect not only on missing Brendan’s presence but on those who have tragically lost their nearest and dearest family members this week, without warning. It’s very sobering.
May brings another bridge to cross sans Brendan w my birthday later this week.I’ve always loved May and lilac is usually out. This time without the man of my life in my life, I’m going to point the car in some direction w my best friend, not sure where yet, to get the event over!
.
@DavidMcredmond
Our amazing postman, who saw us through the lockdowns, was on my doorstep at 7.20 again this morning with storm howling. A loud knock on door, acknowledgment from me out window, a wave from him and he’s off. The man deserves a medal.
I doubt
@JoeBiden
@DrBiden
have a better Christmas wreath on The White House door - made in Kilkenny by florist extraordinaire
@Lamber_de_Bie
and a present to me by good friends.
Happy to say we have our wonderful Brendan home again but it would be remiss of me, particularly in these pressurised times, not to thank his cardiologist
@ohanloncmr
for his unfailing ongoing care and support, and his wonderful team
@BlackrockClinic
Everyone has been amazing.
Gable was seen this morning about 7.30am in York Road. We’ve spent the last three hours searching but no sign - we’re heading out again very early in the morning when it’s quiet in the hopes he might be on the move. Night all and thank you for your good wishes.
#gable
#findgable
Tears the heart out of me but at least a bright sunny say with lots of daffodils all over the place is a better day for visiting Brendan and my parents in Deansgrange. 💔🌼
ATTN Monkstown/Dun Laoghaire one of my Siamese boys has gone missing and we’re frantic looking for him out and around. He’s on the very right in this picture, adorable and not used to being out. Please contact if you see him.
Bruno went back upstairs roaring for all he’s worth…no luck. Funny, I was thinking this morning how I’d love to see a pile of shirts waiting to be ironed - not that I ever did them - Brendan was meticulous. 6 months gone this week - huge void.
#grief
Gaz Smith has captivated the Dublin restaurant scene but today in the Sunday Independent, for the first time, he opens up, talking bravely to me of his difficult childhood in England, not knowing his father, losing his mother, his attempted suicide, and learning to cook…
We’ve come a long way since I started reviewing. We now have world class restaurants at all levels with chefs who work their guts out. It’s a tough business and to keep them in biz we need to support them. It’s no fun sitting at home...just be sensible, follow hygiene advice.
we could cope.On my last birthday in May he had Ian organize the fixins for an old fave, a Harvey Wallbanger in the room, to be followed swiftly by Champagne - ever the theatrical he was big into stage management!Tonight’s a night for a Harvey Wallbanger and bed. Cheers Brendan!
I don’t eat a lot of pasta but somehow tonight felt like a solid heap of comforting carbs in the form of spaghetti and my own arrabiata sauce. It’s not pretty, I won’t eat it all, I said, guess what….😳 😔
So how do you get thru’ these ‘special occasions’ w/out Brendan? Well I got
@mandsireland
Valentine’s special so had 2 Coquilles St Jacques starters as mains! Would’ve amused him.Also saw Sancerre rosé reduced fr €22ish to €14.65 & picked up 6! + my
@Murphy_Kavanagh
flowers
A funeral this morning of one gone too soon but a beautiful send off. Dentist in afternoon. Brendan will be gone two months tomorrow. It’s a cold night and I deserve a glass of this Chianti Riserva named for Pope Clemente V11 - a member of the Medici family- and it’s very good!
Delighted to be invited to the World’s No 1
@nomacph
Copenhagen to sample/give feedback on their trial run b4 official opening Feb 1 w their Ocean Season.The extraordinary
@ReneRedzepiNoma
created the restaurant and cuisine of a generation which influenced chefs around the world.
This was a moment that made me extremely proud. Proud to be Irish, and proud of how we’re looking out for each other through this time. Grá Mór. We’ll be good soon 🇮🇪 X
I may not be Bond girl material but I’ve a lovely invitation to the highest restaurant in Europe for their wine of the mountains event. It’s the stunning Ice Q in Austria, which features in the Bond movie Spectre.
This exactly what I said in my restaurant review 2day. Every restaurant I’ve been in is using visors as I sat below them concerned ab downward flow of air + tendency to slightly flip up the end when speaking. They need to be worn with a mask or just a mask alone please.
Leicester facing lockdown; Los Angeles closing bars. We’re all looking forward to getting out and about but please be careful, wear masks, don’t behave stupidly, we don’t want to go backwards.
BTW although she protested strongly she didn’t want it, Ian delivered the €250 reward immediately to ‘Marjorie’, who lived not far away, and who’d alerted us to the empty house where we found Gable. I’m not sure he’d have survived another night.
#happy
#grateful
Brendan and I always went to first mass in Dun Laoghaire on Christmas morning and drove along the seafront afterwards counting our blessings. I still count my blessings. Happy Christmas to all.
#dunlaoghaire
#Christmas2022
#touteseule
#Brendan
#grief
We’re all more than a bit upset with what’s happening with our friends in the hospitality industry who work so hard and bust a gut every night of the week for us all. Brendan and I are raising a quiet glass, in isolation, to you all in admiration.
#thistoowillpass
#COVID19ireland