Each week, we ask someone who really knows Ireland’s twists and turns to share their favourite places. Today: Sheena Dignam of Galway Food Tours on the spots that keep her coming back – from buzzy gin ice cream to a steak-and-eggs breakfast.

Wicklow native Sheena Dignam grew up in France, where she fell in love with food (and later, wine). She studied culinary arts, and after moving back to Ireland she began working with restaurants.

She later moved into chocolate, opening Cocoa Atelier where she designed everything from products to packaging. Through Cocoa Atelier, Dignam was introduced to the Fab Food Trails walking tours in Dublin and Cork – and she eventually decided to start her own version in Galway. 

“I have been running tours since late 2015,” she says. “This started because I used to get a lot of slagging from my French colleagues about Irish food, so I wanted to show them “real ” Irish food, the new Ireland and all the energy around our food and drink industry.”

My most memorable Irish destination: Loop Head, Co Clare

I love travelling here. The coastal drive is breathtaking – it’s so wild and rugged. With an obligatory stop in Crotty’s pub in Kilrush.

My favourite town or village: Inishbofin

What a tough one! I love going out to Inishbofin and staying the night to get away from it all, going for walks along the beach, the Cromwell castle at low tide. You’ve got to visit the Inishwallah bus for food, and then drinks and music at The Beach, Days Bar.

The best place I’ve ever eaten an ice cream: My home town (with Dingle a close second)

In my home town in Tours, France. There is this unreal ice cream maker. His lavender and salted caramel flavours are my favourites. I do love Murphy’s ice cream, their Dingle Gin one is so tasty and gets you slightly buzzed.

The best breakfast I’ve ever had: Kai, Galway

My favourite meal of the day! I must say I went to Kai for brunch and had their steak with greens, eggs and lashings of hollandaise sauce. It was the bomb.

My favourite place for a hike: Black Head, Co Clare

I love hiking out at Black Head. The views are stunning.

My hidden gem that not many people know about: America Village Apothecary Tasting Rooms, Galway 

Claire Davey, the passionate owner, makes unreal syrups, tinctures, syrups from her farm in Connemara. With these they concoct the tastiest drinks in the surroundings of an old pharmacy in Galway’s West End.