🥔 Caladruo
Irish farmer harvesting potatoes in lush green County Cork field
Family Farmed in County Cork Since 2014

Tradition of
Irish Farming

Rooted in the rich, dark earth of southern Ireland, Caladruo grows heritage potato varieties the way our grandparents did. Every spud tells a story of care, patience, and the Irish land.

Explore Our Varieties Our Story
12

Years of Farming

8

Potato Varieties

45

Acres of Fields

200+

Local Customers

historic Irish farmhouse in County Cork countryside with stone walls and green meadows
Our Heritage

🌾 A Farm Rooted in History

Caladruo began in 2014 when Seamus and Deirdre O'Sullivan returned to their family homestead near Bandon, County Cork, with a dream of reviving traditional Irish potato farming. The land had been in the O'Sullivan family for three generations, lying fallow for nearly a decade before Seamus put his hands back into the soil.

Starting with just five acres and two heritage varieties, the farm grew steadily through word of mouth. Local restaurants discovered our potatoes had a flavour and texture that supermarket varieties simply could not match. The secret was never complicated: healthy soil, proper crop rotation, and the patience to let each variety mature at its own pace. By 2018, Caladruo had expanded to 45 acres and was supplying farmers' markets across Munster.

Today, the farm remains a family operation. Seamus still walks the rows every morning, checking the leaves and feeling the earth. Our methods are slow and deliberate because the best things from Irish soil always have been.

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What We Grow

🥔 Our Potato Varieties

Each variety we grow has been selected for its flavour, texture, and suitability to the Cork climate. We rotate our crops carefully to keep the soil fertile and each harvest rich.

golden Rooster potatoes freshly dug from Irish soil
Popular

Rooster

Ireland's favourite red-skinned potato. Floury and full-flavoured, ideal for mashing, roasting, and baking. Grows beautifully in our Cork clay and produces reliably each September.

Harvest: September - October
creamy Kerr's Pink potatoes in rustic wooden crate

Kerr's Pink

A classic Irish heritage variety with pink-splashed skin and white, floury flesh. Perfect for traditional colcannon and champ. This variety has been grown in Ireland for over a century.

Harvest: October - November
smooth Queens potatoes with pale yellow skin on farm table

Queens

Our earliest variety, ready by mid-July. Waxy and firm, Queens are wonderful boiled with butter and fresh mint. They mark the start of our harvest season and sell out quickly each year.

Harvest: July - August
British Queen heritage potatoes with earthy texture
Heritage

British Queen

Despite the name, this is a deeply Irish potato dating back to 1894. Dry and floury with exceptional taste, it rewards slow cooking. We grow limited quantities to preserve the heritage seed stock.

Harvest: August - September
View All 8 Varieties
How We Farm

🚜 Our Farming Process

From preparing the ground in early spring to storing the harvest through winter, every step at Caladruo follows a rhythm passed down through generations of Irish farming families.

1

Soil Preparation

In February and March, we plough and harrow the fields, incorporating composted farmyard manure built up over winter. We test soil pH each year and lime where needed. The goal is loose, aerated earth with balanced nutrients, ready to receive seed potatoes by late March.

2

Planting

We chit our seed potatoes indoors from January, encouraging strong sprouts before planting. Rows are spaced 75cm apart with 30cm between each seed, set into drills about 12cm deep. Each variety gets its own section of the farm to prevent cross-contamination and track performance.

3

Growing & Care

Through spring and summer, we earth up the drills regularly to protect developing tubers from light. We walk the rows checking for blight, aphids, and nutrient deficiencies. Cork's mild, rainy climate reduces the need for irrigation, but we monitor soil moisture during dry spells in June and July.

4

Harvest & Storage

Harvest runs from July through November depending on variety. We use a single-row mechanical digger followed by hand-picking to avoid bruising. Potatoes are cured for two weeks in a cool, dark barn before being graded, bagged, and delivered to our customers across Munster.

Learn More About Our Methods
From Farm to Table

🍳 Traditional Potato Recipes

These recipes have been shared around our kitchen table for years. Simple, hearty dishes that let the natural flavour of fresh Irish potatoes shine through.

traditional Irish colcannon with creamy mashed potatoes cabbage and butter pool
30 min Easy

Classic Colcannon

Fluffy Kerr's Pink potatoes mashed with sauteed curly kale, spring onions, warm milk, and a generous amount of butter. A dish that has warmed Irish households for centuries. Best served with a well of melted butter in the centre and a sprinkle of white pepper.

View Recipe
golden crispy Irish boxty potato pancakes on cast iron skillet
45 min Medium

Boxty Potato Pancakes

A traditional Irish pancake made from a mix of grated raw Rooster potato and mashed cooked potato, bound with flour, egg, and buttermilk. Pan-fried until golden and crisp on the outside, soft and pillowy within. Serve with smoked salmon or a simple dollop of sour cream.

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rich creamy Irish potato and leek soup in ceramic bowl with soda bread
40 min Easy

Potato & Leek Soup

Diced Queens potatoes simmered with sliced leeks, onion, and vegetable stock until tender, then blended until velvety smooth. Finished with cream, a pinch of nutmeg, and fresh chives. Pair with a thick slice of homemade soda bread for the ultimate comfort meal on a wet Cork evening.

View Recipe
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What People Say

Words From Our Community

"We switched to Caladruo potatoes at our restaurant two years ago and the difference is remarkable. The Roosters roast perfectly every time, and customers regularly ask which potatoes we use. The consistency from harvest to harvest is impressive."

NO

Niamh O'Brien

Head Chef, Cork

"I've been buying from Caladruo at the Midleton Farmers' Market every Saturday since 2019. The Queens in July are something I look forward to all year. You can taste the freshness and care that goes into growing them. Wonderful people, wonderful spuds."

PM

Padraig Murphy

Market Regular, Midleton

"As a small grocery shop owner, I value suppliers who are reliable and transparent. Caladruo delivers on time, their potatoes are always clean and well-graded, and Seamus is happy to chat about which variety suits each dish. That kind of knowledge and service is rare."

SC

Sinead Crowley

Shop Owner, Kinsale

Get in Touch

📬 Contact Caladruo

Whether you are a restaurant looking for a reliable potato supplier, a home cook with questions about our varieties, or simply curious about visiting the farm, we would love to hear from you. Send us a message and we will get back to you within one working day.

Farm Address

Caladruo Farm, Kilbrogan Hill, Bandon, Co. Cork, P72 TY86, Ireland

Phone

+353 23 882 1045

Working Hours

Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Farm Shop)

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