The mussels grown in the sheltered inlets around Sligo and Mayo's coast are considered some of the cleanest and sweetest on the Irish Atlantic seaboard.
Fresh rope-grown mussels are steamed open in a splash of stock, wine or cream with garlic and herbs, then served in the pot with bread for mopping up the liquor. Coastal markets and food stalls in Connacht sell them by the kilo, straight off the boats.