Travelling gluten free in Ireland

Are you going on a holiday to Ireland and looking for the best gluten-free spots? Look no further! We have gathered all necessary information for gluten free in Ireland in one easy overview.

Coeliac Disease is common in Ireland and many people would know the basics of the condition and the diet, but usually they would not be aware of the finer details of cross-contamination or how it can affect coeliacs if they are accidentally ‘glutened’.

Anyone travelling within Ireland may find that many restaurants, particularly those on the Coeliac Friendly Restaurant List, would be able to cater for them, but they must always remain vigilant and explain their needs clearly or use the translations to help them.

Condition described as

I am Coeliac and must stick to a strict gluten free diet. I cannot eat: Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye and Spelt.

Hidden Gluten – check ingredients for:

Baking Powder Malt Flavouring
Beer, Stouts, Ales & Lagers Noodles
Breadcrumbs Pearl Barley
Bulgar Semolina
Cereal Binder Soya Sauces
Couscous Starch & Modified Starch
Durum Wheat (Pasta) Wheat Bran
Farina Wheat flour
Kibbled Wheat Wheat germ
Malt Malt Extract

I also cannot eat: foods that have been deep fried or flavoured with gluten-containing food, e.g. battered fish and chips.

Hidden gluten is mostly contained in processed food – which is a good reason to serve fresh natural food to the coeliac diner.

• Please ensure that food does not come into contact with any gluten containing food or utensils or work surfaces that have been used for ‘ordinary’ meals.

Please see over for suggestions of what to serve me!

I can eat:

  • Arrowroot
  • Cornflour
  • Eggs
  • Dried Peas
  • Fresh Fish
  • Fresh Fruit
  • Fresh Herbs
  • Fresh Meat
  • Fresh Poultry
  • Golden Syrup
  • Honey
  • Jams & Marmalades
  • Lentils
  • Natural Cheese
  • Natural Yogurt
  • Plain individual Spices
  • Potatoes
  • Pulses & Beans
  • Pure Oils & Fats
  • Rice & Ground Rice
  • Sago
  • Sugar
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tapioca
  • Tomato Puree
  • Treacle
  • Vanilla Essence & Extract
  • Vegetables
  • Vinegars
  • Wines & Spirits
  • Yeast (Fresh & Dried)

Gluten-free Flours & Breads – commercial brands which comply with the International Standard for gluten-free foods (Codex Alimentarius).

• Please use special gluten free dietary flours in cooking as some natural flours e.g. rice flour, maize flour, potato flour, soya flour, gram and chickpea flour, buckwheat and millet can be cross contaminated with gluten residue.

Where to buy gluten-free food in Ireland

Brands available:

  • AGAINST THE GRAIN
  • ALARA
  • ALLERGYCARE
  • ALMONDY
  • BAKERS DELIGHT
  • BARKAT
  • BEIKER / Natural Aliment Factory S.L.
  • BEZGLUTEN
  • BIA NUA
  • BIG OZ
  • Bunalun Organic Gluten Free Pasta & Rice Cakes
  • BYRON BAY
  • CLIVE’S GLUTEN FREE CAKES / PIES / READY MEALS
  • DELICIOUS – The Gluten Free Bakery
  • DELISENZA
  • DIETARY SPECIALS
  • DOVES FARM
  • Ener-G Brand – General Dietary
  • ESTRELLA DAMM DAURA – Gluten Free Beer
  • EURO-NAT
  • FREE TO ENJOY
  • GENIUS
  • GIULIANI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
  • GLEBE FARM
  • GLUTAFIN
  • GREEN’S GLUTEN FREE BEERS
  • HONEYBUNS
  • JUVELA
  • KALLO FOODS
  • KELKIN LTD
  • LIVWELL
  • LOVEMORE
  • MOILAS
  • MOLINO DE FERRO
  • MRS CRIMBLES – STILETTO FOODS
  • MULLIGAN’S
  • NATURE’S PATH
  • ODLUMS – Tritamyl Brand
  • OK FOODS LTD
  • ORGRAN
  • PROBIOS
  • PROCELI TURTULL S.L.
  • RICE & RICE BRAND – Pasta (Probios Foods)
  • RIZOPIA
  • SAMMILLS
  • SOWAN’S ORGANIC MIXES
  • TESCO FREE FROM
  • TOBIA TEFF UK LTD
  • TRUFREE
  • VILLAGE BAKERY (Melmerby)
  • VIVA MAIS BRAND – Pasta (Probios Foods)
  • WHOLE EARTH

Gluten-free restaurants in Ireland

The Coeliac Society of Ireland has a Coeliac Friendly Restaurant List, which details restaurants, (a very small number of B&B’s) and some hotels that are coeliac friendly. They are not vetted by the Society, but receive our annual Catering List of gluten-free foods and information and guidelines on catering for coeliacs and avoiding cross-contamination.

The list is available by emailing info@coeliac.ie and requesting it. There is no charge for this.

There isn’t a chain of restaurants were you can eat – except McDonald’s, but you must check if the fries are cooked in separate oil to the promotional items, such as wedges, etc. Also you must request the burger without the bun.

Our website also has some recommendations, on our message board: http://coeliac.ie/webboards/index.php under the topic Eating Out.

www.glutenfreeireland.com has a long list of gluten free restaurants.

Gluten-free hotels in Ireland

See above re Coeliac Friendly Restaurant List – the very short accommodation list is featured at the top of this. Also many B&B’s would be willing to cater, but it’s important to explain the requirements and ensure they understand about cross contamination. If in doubt, B&B’s can be directed to contact the Society for more information at coeliacmanulist@eircom.net

Irish Coeliac Association

Coeliac Society of Ireland
Carmichael Centre
4 North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7
Tel: 00 353 1 872 1471
Email: info@coeliac.ie
Office telephone hours – Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Please note that the Society has a Gluten Free Food List booklet, available to purchase from the office for €10 (plus postage if sending abroad).

If you wish to obtain a copy you can contact us by email info@coeliac.ie for IBAN details or you can call in if you are visiting Dublin and purchase a copy.

Last update of this Travel Net information: May 2011