Since the mid 1990s Eugene and Helena Hickey’s delicious Skeaghanore West Cork Duck has been delighting visitors to West Cork - and, since two of their five children, Daniel and Ciara, joined the business recently, it's now set to develop and thrive for another generation.
Hand-reared on their farm overlooking Roaring Water Bay and fed on an admirably 'free-from' diet of corn, Skeaghanore duck has the great texture and fullness of flavour that you only find in well-fed free range poultry and is proudly featured on menus in the area's best restaurants.
You’ll also see it in selective shops, both in the area - Fields of Skibbereen and Scallys of Clonakilty, for example - and further afield, in speciality stores such as Ardkeen Food Store, Waterford, Mortons of Ranelagh and Salthill, and Cavistons of Sandycove.
A number of good butchers are stockists too, mainly in Cork city and county but also some outside the area, including McGeoughs of Oughterard, Co Galway.
The Skeaghanore West Cork Duck website lists the main outlets, and there are many more at Christmas time.
The Hickeys also produce geese for the Christmas market, and their duck product range includes fresh full and half ducks, and fresh duck portions - every part of the duck, in fact, including eggs and duck fat.
Some cooked producs have recently added to the range, including confit legs (which are cooked on the farm) and a hot smoked breast portion, which is fully cooked and makes a really interesting convenience product. Other innovative products are in the pipeline too, and there's no stopping this family now.
A West Cork treasure.
