Louth residents can make their own cider this Autumn

Louth residents can make their own cider this Autumn as Castlebellingham Orchards has opened its 2026 cider apple harvest.

Visitors can pick their own cider apples and take them home to make their own cider.

Pat McArdle of Castlebellingham Orchards said: “People are often surprised when they discover how difficult it is to buy proper cider apples in Ireland. There are plenty of apples around in autumn, but an eating apple and a traditional cider apple are two very different things.

“You can ferment the juice from almost any apple, but if you want to make a cider with body, depth and that slightly dry, tannic character associated with traditional cider, you need the right varieties.

“That is why we decided to make ours available to everybody. You don't have to be a commercial cider maker. If somebody wants to come along, pick a couple of bags of Dabinett or Redstreak and go home and make their first batch of cider, they're very welcome.”

The family-run orchard is not only worked on by Pat and his wife, Caoimhe, but also their six children who have all played a part in maintaining the orchard.

“It has always been a family project,” said McArdle. “All six of our children have been involved at different stages. They helped us mark out the rows, plant the trees and, perhaps less enthusiastically on some days, pick the apples.

“When you look down the rows now and see mature trees carrying fruit, you remember when those trees were just small whips going into the ground. The children have grown up with the orchard, so there is a lot of family history tied up in it for us.”

According to Castlebellingham Orchards, making cider at home is a relatively simple process.

Apples are crushed or milled, the juice is pressed out and then fermented. For many people the hardest part is not the fermentation, it is finding suitable apples.

Castlebellingham Orchards recommends using specialist cider fruit as part of a blend with locally available eating or cooking apples.

Traditional cider varieties provide tannin, sugar, acidity and flavour that can be lacking when cider is made entirely from ordinary dessert apples.

During the 2026 harvest visitors can pick their own cider apples for €18 per 20kg bag.

Pre-picked apples are available at €20 per 20kg bag, while larger quantities are available to craft and small-scale cider makers at €250 per 300kg bin, subject to availability.

Castlebellingham Orchards is now taking orders for the 2026 cider apple harvest.

Find out how to make your own cider here.