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(January 2012)| Irish cuisine is a style of cooking originating
from Ireland or developed by Irish people. It evolved from
centuries of social and political change. The cuisine takes its
influence from the crops grown and animals farmed in its
temperate climate. The introduction of the potato in the second
half of the 16th century heavily influenced Ireland's cuisine
thereafter and, as a result, is often closely associated with
Ireland. Representative Irish dishes are Irish stew, bacon and
cabbage, potato, boxty, coddle, and colcannon. There are many
references to food and drink in Irish mythology and early Irish
literature such as the tale of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Salmon
of Knowledge The old stories also contain many references to
banquets, although these may well be greatly exaggerated and
provide little insight into everyday diets. Honey seems to have
been widely eaten and used in the making of mead. There are also
many references to fulacht