The Hickey Family in Ballydehob have been farming duck for many a year. Eugene and Helena Hickey started with a flock of thirty ducks as an experiment, to see if demand exsited from local shops and chefs. Today they have a full on production which supplies weekly to selected butchers, supermarkets and some of Ireland’s top chefs nationwide. The Hickey’s Skeaghanore West Cork Duck Farm is located in Ballydehob West Cork, on the Wild Atlantic Way, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the Mizen Peninsula. What a stunnng location for this family farm, which has its roots based in tradition and where all the Hickey children have played their part in helping out as they grew up! A real family operation. Skeaghanore ducks are barn reared and supplied as whole birds or leg and breast portions, and duck livers.Fresh duck livers make a damn tasty snack, pan fried and stuffed into a salad filled warm crusty baguette. And they are priced to suit every pocket – a real affordable local product. Simply rinse, pat dry and pick over, then fry in butter or oil over high heat till browned all over but still pink in the centre. Toss in the pan with a splash of balsamic vinegar, a teaspoon of tomato puree and a splash of water to make a little pan juice. Stuff into warmed pieces of crusty baguette, with salad of choice. A nutrionally balanced snack for lunch which won’t cost the earth. If you are living in West Cork, pop into Supervalu Stores in Skibbereen or Clonakilty to find a 300g pack of Skeaghanore fresh duck livers at €2.99 a pack. Brilliant value, brilliant taste.