Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials in Bailieborough, County Cavan
Corkish Bailieborough Co. Cavan Ireland
Based at Corkish, just outside Bailieborough in County Cavan, Mary-Ellen’s Meadow produces a distinctive collection of homemade Irish artisan cordials inspired by the wild herbs, berries and flowers found throughout the surrounding countryside. Created by Rose Carolan, the business brings the flavours of Ireland’s natural landscape into a refreshing range of drinks that can be enjoyed at home, at celebrations or simply as an alternative to conventional soft drinks.
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow takes great pride in producing cordials that remain closely connected to the land from which their ingredients come. Wild plants, fruits, herbs and flowers are gathered within walking distance of the family home, allowing freshly picked ingredients to begin their journey into delicious cordials within minutes of being collected.
From wild elderflower and stinging nettle to hawthorn flower, gorse and willowherb, the range celebrates flavours that generations of Irish families would once have recognised growing naturally around them.
Authentic Irish Cordials Made with Wild Foraged Ingredients
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow offers an authentic taste of Ireland through drinks created from naturally growing herbs, berries, fruits and flowers.
Rather than relying on heavily processed ingredients or large-scale cultivation, much of the produce used in the cordials is foraged from the meadow behind the family home and from the nearby countryside around Loughanlea Mountain.
The ingredients are handpicked when they have reached their best, helping to capture their natural aromas and flavours. Because the plants grow so close to where the cordials are produced, there is little need for transportation between harvesting and production.
This simple approach allows Mary-Ellen’s Meadow to produce wonderfully distinctive drinks while maintaining a close connection with the surrounding County Cavan landscape.
From the Meadow to the Bottle
The process behind Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials begins outdoors.
Wild fruits, flowers and herbs are carefully handpicked from the garden, meadow and surrounding fields when they are at the height of their natural perfection. Once collected, they are brought home and prepared using traditional methods inspired by recipes and knowledge handed down through generations.
There is even a little Mary-Ellen’s Meadow magic involved, with the business describing its traditional method as a secret old process shared only with the fairies.
After the ingredients have been prepared, atmosphere and time are allowed to play their part. Rather than relying heavily on machinery, the cordials are given the time they need to develop their characteristic flavours.
When everything is ready, the finished cordial is bottled and prepared for customers to enjoy.
A Delicious Range of Wild Irish Cordials
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow produces a growing and seasonally changing range of drinks using herbs, fruits and flowers found in the Irish countryside.
Among the best-known flavours are Wild Elderflower Cordial and the wonderfully unusual Wild Nettle Cordial. The company also creates cordials using ingredients including hawthorn flower, gorse and willowherb, with additional varieties introduced as different plants and flowers come into season.
Popular products include:
Sparkling Wild Nettle – a refreshing ready-to-drink sparkling beverage showcasing one of Ireland’s most familiar wild plants.
Sparkling Wild Elderflower – a light and refreshing sparkling drink with the distinctive floral character of elderflower.
Wild Elderflower Cordial – a traditional floral cordial that can be diluted with still or sparkling water or incorporated into cocktails.
Wild Nettle Cordial – an unusual artisan cordial created using wild nettles gathered from the local countryside.
The cordials can be served with still water, sparkling water or used creatively in cocktails, making them suitable for everything from everyday refreshments to special occasions.
Natural, Sustainable and Inspired by the Irish Countryside
Sustainability is an important part of the philosophy behind Mary-Ellen’s Meadow.
Many of the ingredients are gathered without the need for transport because they grow within walking distance of the family home. This helps reduce emissions associated with transporting raw ingredients.
Mother Nature also does much of the growing. There is no need for machinery to cultivate many of the wild ingredients, helping reduce the use of petrol, diesel and electricity.
The production process itself uses very little electricity, relying instead on traditional preparation techniques, natural processes and, importantly, time.
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow also supports other Irish businesses wherever possible. Bottles, caps and labels are purchased in Ireland, helping the company support the wider Irish economy while maintaining its strong local identity.
Respect for Nature and Traditions from Generations Past
The story behind Mary-Ellen’s Meadow is closely connected with an appreciation of nature and an understanding of how previous generations made use of the ingredients growing around them.
The business takes its name from Rose Carolan’s great-aunt, Mary-Ellen, who helped sow the seeds of knowledge and appreciation for the traditional ways herbs, flowers and fruits could be transformed into something delicious.
Those lessons continue to influence the cordials today.
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow combines homegrown ingredients with naturally occurring fruits, herbs and flowers, using recipes and techniques inspired by times gone by. The result is a collection of drinks with flavours that can evoke memories of traditional homemade refreshments and childhood days spent in the Irish countryside.
A County Cavan Artisan Food Story
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials began as a celebration of the outdoors, Mother Nature and the abundance of ingredients available throughout the countryside surrounding Bailieborough.
In 2015, the cordials began appearing at small farmers’ markets in local towns. Their popularity gradually grew, bringing the products to larger food events including the Great Taste of Cavan.
The business also attracted the attention of Bord Bia, with Mary-Ellen’s Meadow invited to take part in Bloom, helping introduce its County Cavan cordials to an even wider audience.
What began with a love of natural ingredients and traditional recipes has since developed into a recognised Irish artisan drinks brand.
What a day for Rose @Mary-Ellens Meadows September 11th 2025, the day that her condials are in every LIDL store nationwide! Well done Rose, you deserve it after all your hard work and dedication!
National Recognition for Mary-Ellen’s Meadow
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow achieved another important milestone in 2023 when Rose Carolan was selected as one of the finalists in the Grow with ALDI programme.
The initiative, run in partnership with Bord Bia and Invest Northern Ireland, provides smaller food and drink producers with an opportunity to introduce their products to a national audience.
As part of the programme, Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Elderflower and Nettle Cordials were stocked in ALDI stores around Ireland.
The achievement brought national recognition to a business whose ingredients and inspiration remain firmly rooted in the countryside around Bailieborough and County Cavan.
Fresh Produce with a Very Short Journey
One of the qualities that makes Mary-Ellen’s Meadow particularly distinctive is just how close many of the ingredients are to where the finished drinks are produced.
Rather than travelling long distances before reaching the production process, herbs, flowers and fruits can be collected from nearby meadows, fields and countryside before being brought home within minutes.
This exceptionally short journey helps maintain freshness while supporting the company’s efforts to minimise unnecessary transport and associated carbon emissions.
It represents a simple philosophy: work with what nature provides locally, treat those ingredients with respect and allow sufficient time for their natural flavours to develop.
Enjoy the Taste of Mary-Ellen’s Meadow
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow offers something refreshingly different for anyone interested in authentic Irish artisan food and drink.
Each bottle tells part of a wider story involving County Cavan’s countryside, wild Irish plants, traditional recipes, sustainability and generations of knowledge.
Whether enjoying Wild Elderflower Cordial with sparkling water, discovering the unusual flavour of Wild Nettle Cordial or experimenting with one of the drinks in a cocktail, customers can experience a little taste of the Irish countryside wherever they happen to be.
The product range continues to evolve throughout the seasons as different fruits, herbs and flowers become available.
Order Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials Online
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials can be ordered online for delivery directly to customers’ doors.
The company regularly introduces new varieties and products depending on what is available naturally throughout the seasons, making its website the best place to discover the latest additions to the range.
Visitors can learn more about the story behind the cordials, explore the available products and order directly through.
https://mary-ellens-meadow.sumupstore.com/
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Three lovely sisters, Rose Carolan (centre) receiving her 3 Mary Ellens Meadow awards @The Anglo Celt, accompanies by her two sisters , Maura ( on the left) and( Eileen on the right)
What Customers Say About Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials
Customers have praised Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Cordials for their refreshing flavours, distinctive ingredients and enjoyable sparkling finish. The Wild Nettle and Wild Elderflower varieties have been described as delightful and refreshing, while the Elderflower sparkling drink has been complimented for its sweet flavour and pleasant level of fizz. Visitors who sampled the drinks at events such as Flavours of Fingal have also highlighted both the quality of the products and the friendly people behind the brand. With comments such as “amazing products,” “love it,” and strong recommendations to friends, Mary-Ellen’s Meadow continues to leave a positive impression on customers looking for something a little different from a conventional soft drink.
Contact Mary-Ellen’s Meadow
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow is based at:
Corkish
Bailieborough
Co. Cavan
Ireland
Telephone: 087 127 58 05
Email: info@maryellensmeadow.ie
Website: www.maryellensmeadow.ie
Customers looking for information about the available cordials, new seasonal flavours, stockists or general enquiries can contact Mary-Ellen’s Meadow directly.
Discover a Genuine Taste of County Cavan
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow combines traditional knowledge, wild Irish ingredients and modern artisan food production to create something genuinely connected to its surroundings.
From handpicking elderflowers and nettles in the countryside around Bailieborough to allowing nature and time to develop the finished flavours, every stage reflects an appreciation of where the ingredients have come from.
With sustainability, Irish sourcing and respect for generations of traditional knowledge at the heart of the business, Mary-Ellen’s Meadow offers much more than simply another soft drink.
It provides a refreshing taste of County Cavan and Ireland’s natural countryside in every bottle.
Summary – Mary-Ellen’s Meadow Bailieborough
Mary-Ellen’s Meadow is a County Cavan artisan drinks producer based at Corkish outside Bailieborough. Created by Rose Carolan and inspired by the knowledge passed down by her great-aunt Mary-Ellen, the company produces delicious homemade cordials using wild and homegrown herbs, berries, fruits and flowers.
Its range includes favourites such as Wild Elderflower Cordial, Wild Nettle Cordial, Sparkling Wild Elderflower and Sparkling Wild Nettle, together with seasonal varieties featuring ingredients such as hawthorn flower, gorse and willowherb.
Ingredients are gathered close to the family home, helping Mary-Ellen’s Meadow minimise transportation and maintain exceptionally fresh produce. Very little electricity is required during production, while bottles, caps and labels are sourced in Ireland wherever possible.
From local farmers’ markets and the Great Taste of Cavan to Bloom and national recognition through the Grow with ALDI programme, Mary-Ellen’s Meadow has developed into a wonderful example of an Irish artisan producer remaining true to its local roots.
Visitors can discover the latest cordials and seasonal products or order online for delivery through www.maryellensmeadow.ie.
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