Fancy making your own butter or spearfishing for spider crabs? Meet the man on a mission to protect ancient Irish food traditions

Now living in west Cork, Max Jones has spent years learning about traditional food production and preservation. Here, he talks about passing on forgotten skills to the younger generation and the pre-historic practice that piqued the interest of Rachel Allen

Max Jones. Photo: Cliodhna Prendergast

Katy McGuinness

“In the weird culinary landscape of west Cork,” says Max Jones, “there are actually very few places to eat.”

So instead of sampling the fare at the two-Michelin-Star Dede next door (it has yet to open for the season at the time of my visit), we’re tucking into an early dinner of tacos and patatas bravas in the Algiers Inn in Baltimore.