Foraging Expert Miceal Murray on the Wild Side of Dublin

1 September 2021

After working for more than two decades in cafes and restaurants, entrepreneur Miceal Murray founded Taking A Leaf, which offers guided wild-plant and foraging walks in Dublin to encourage people to connect with green space in an urban landscape. He is also a chef committed to sustainable and local dishes.

About Miceal Murray and Taking A Leaf

Having grown up in the countryside and then moving to Dublin in my early 20s, I felt for many years a disconnection that I eventually pinned down to a disconnection from nature. A move back to the countryside wasn’t on the cards, so I decided to find ways to connect in the city. Watching the seasons change and the life cycle of plants ebb and flow through the year is not as difficult as you might think.

My project Taking A Leaf grew out of this desire, as well as wanting to invite people to find nature in an urban environment. Sometimes this requires changing the way they see the landscape and reimagining what might be viewed as abandoned or derelict. My walks offer people the opportunity to slow down and see plants growing in the city. I talk about their edible and medicinal properties as well as share stories and folklore. More directly, perhaps, the idea is to see, smell, and taste some of the landscape that is often greatly ignored or invisible. This can have a very therapeutic quality, as spending any time with nature is proven to be so good for our health.

Where in Dublin Do You Go Foraging?

Plants in the city are total opportunists and will find a foothold in the most unlikely of places. I have picked buddleia – mostly for flower arrangements – from city-centre streets, apples and pears from municipally planted trees on busy suburban roads, Alexanders from the canal banks, and blackberries from just about anywhere. Ditto dandelions and nettles.

What Do You Love About Dublin?

Dublin is a wonderful city to live in. The ubiquitous culture of drinking and constant partying is being replaced with what feels like people opening up to what our wonderful landscape has to offer. For years everything happened in the city centre, but more recently this has been turned on its head and now really interesting neighbourhoods are emerging. For instance, where I live in Inchicore, there is a wonderful cross-section of people. It’s still relatively affordable to live here and there are wonderful cafés, such as Unfiltered Coffee Co and Storyboard, along with organic markets – Dublin Organic Food Co-op, The Green Door Market, and Small Changes Wholefoods Store – within walking distance. Best of all, I can hop on my bike and a dip in the sea is only a 40-minute cycle away.

Favorite Food Addresses in the City

Clanbrassil House is definitely my favourite restaurant right now – Jimmy Dobson, the chef there, is one to watch. The Fumbally café is a hive of activity and ground zero for many emerging talents. It also has the most wonderful food and wine shop, and the staff are terrific. The Brother Hubbard cafés both north and south of the river are always top for food, coffee, atmosphere, and service. Hatch in Blackrock and Boom in Inchicore are my two favourite spots for coffee.

How Has the Food Scene in Dublin Changed?

It’s now unrecognisable compared to five or ten years ago. It is, I think, emerging from a place of insecurity to a place confidently ready to present its own very exciting food and not just copy what is happening elsewhere. In time, I believe we will see that we are entering a golden era of Irish food, with Dublin being one of the shining stars. A commitment to local and seasonal will become not just words, but the gold standard.

Top Places Around Dublin to Reconnect with Nature

My daily nature hit is a walk with my dogs along the canal between the bridges at Bluebell and Ballyfermot. It’s a mostly overgrown wilderness of plants, trees, and birds, with the occasional fox and rabbit.

Incredible Nature Experiences Elsewhere in Ireland

I regularly visit my hometown of Clonmel and use it as a base to explore the surrounding Comeragh Mountains via bicycle. The scenery is breathtaking. Visiting Hickeys Bakery by the Westgate in Clonmel is a must. There are so many places to enjoy nature at home: Lismore in Waterford, Falcarragh in Donegal, and the Burren in County Clare.

To learn more about foraging and connecting with nature, you can follow Miceal Murray on Instagram @takingaleaf.