Aran Island Goat’s Cheese is a family run goat farm on Inish Mór – the largest of the Aran Islands - producing a range of soft cheeses and a barrel aged goats feta.
Gabriel Faherty runs both Historical Island Tours and an Island tour that also includes a stop at the cheese factory with people given the chance to meet the goats, watch cheese being made, have an educational commentary and taste the cheese.
Aran Goats Cheese produces a soft cheese with or without Dillisk (a seaweed harvested on the island by Gabriel’s Uncle in Law), a Gouda which also comes infused with sea lettuce, or Dillisk, a medium hard cheese that looks like Brie and a Summer Cheese not unlike Feta. Their Dillisk comes from Blath Na Mara who harvest the weed on our shores here on Inis Mór. The pigs on the farm are also fed whey, a byproduct of cheese making, so nothing goes to waste.
Milk type: Goat Style: Fresh cheese and soft cheese Flavour: Fresh, creamy, salty. Packaged in sunflower oil. Paste: White and curdy Rind: Fresh Cheese Age: 1 week Format: 200g, 600g Rennet: Vegetarian Pairings: Sauvignon Blanc Season available: All year Made with raw milk: No
Milk type: Goat Style: Hard cheese Flavour: Iodine notes of the seaweed Paste: Semi-hard, dense springy texture. Purple specks throughout the interior Rind: Natural rind Age: From 6 weeks Rennet: Vegetarian Pairings: Savoury foods Season available: All year Made with raw milk: No
Milk type: Goat Style: Semi-soft bloomy rind Flavour: Sweet and creamy. Increases flavour with age Paste: Like brie, but with a firmer texture. Rind: Natural rind Rennet: Vegetarian Pairings: Toasted on a baguette with caramelised onion marmalade or fig jam Season available: Summer Made with raw milk: No
Milk type: Goat Style: Fresh cheese and soft cheese Flavour: Smooth, cool and creamy Paste: White and crumbly Rind: No rind Age: <1 week Rennet: Vegetarian Pairings: Vegetables such as asparagus, red pepper, courgette Season available: All year Made with raw milk: No
