From 99’s on Irish beach days to homemade apple tarts at family gatherings, food memories are often our most enduring and emotionally rich
We all have particular tastes or dishes that remind us of our childhood – your mam’s apple tart, your Aunty Ann’s scones, your granny’s stew – and suddenly you’re back there having the craic with your cousins or waiting patiently at your nana’s dinner table.
These evoke warm and happy memories that most of us take for granted but it turns out that there’s a scientific reason why food is so often the key to our most vivid and emotional memories.
“Of all the senses, smell is the only one that connects directly to the brain’s limbic system – which governs memory and emotion,” explains Dr. Ian Kearney, Chartered Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Director of The Atlas Clinic. “That’s why the scent of something familiar – even something ordinary – can trigger memories that are decades old.”
Studies using brain imaging have shown that scent-related memories activate the amygdala and hippocampus more strongly than visually triggered ones – sparking not just a flashback, but a full emotional response. More than that, these food-linked scents can even ease anxiety and boost mood.
That’s why the smell of toast on a dark school morning, curry at a family gathering, or the sound of a pan sizzling with boxty or rashers can instantly transport us to simpler times.
Irish food company Dromod is celebrating 35 years in Irish kitchens and they have been exploring the deep emotional pull of nostalgic food – and science backs it up.
“Our customers often tell us that our boxty tastes just like what their granny made,” says Áine Faughnan, Managing Director of Dromod, a company that’s been handmaking traditional Irish boxty for over three decades.
As modern life gets faster, more people are turning back to these traditional foods – not just for comfort, but for connection.
“There’s a new wave of people who want something real – something they can call their own tradition,” Áine says. “Boxty isn’t just a recipe. It’s a link back to their family, their place, their culture. It connects generations, helping to preserve those memories and traditions so they can be shared and enjoyed for years to come.”
Boxty might not be on every Irish table, but in the northwest, it’s iconic. A traditional potato pancake made from raw and cooked spuds, it’s been a staple in counties like Leitrim and Cavan for generations. Dating back to pre-famine times – long before Irish staples like our famous Guinness – boxty is one of Ireland’s oldest traditional dishes.
“Boxty is a regional treasure,” Áine says. “We want to share it with the rest of the country – to treasure what’s truly Irish, like ham sandwiches on the way to a GAA match or a flask of tea on the sideline. These simple foods carry our culture and connect us through generations.”
Dromod continues to make their products by hand in Co Leitrim, using recipes passed down through generations of the Faughnan family. Their goal isn’t just to bring food to people’s tables – it’s to preserve a part of Ireland’s culinary heritage.
To mark 35 years in business, Dromod is offering 20% off and free delivery until 31 July – inviting everyone to enjoy a taste of tradition. Visit dromodboxty.ie to order, learn more about their story, explore traditional recipes.
