Why Dromod Boxty still tastes like home, 35 years on

To mark 35 years in Irish kitchens, Leitrim-based family company Dromod Boxty is digging into the science behind nostalgic food — and why it hits us right in the heart.

“We’ve always heard it from customers: ‘This tastes just like what my granny made’ or ‘We had this before matches when we were kids’,” says Áine Faughnan, Managing Director of Dromod. “Food holds people and moments inside it. That’s what makes it so powerful.”

Science backs it up. According to Dr Ian Kearney, Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director of The Atlas Clinic, smell is the only sense that connects directly to the brain’s limbic system — the part that handles emotion and memory.

“That’s why a familiar scent — even from something ordinary — can instantly unlock decades-old memories,” he explains.

And it goes deeper than memory. Studies show that smell-evoked memories are often more intense and emotionally positive than those triggered by sight or sound. These sensory time machines don’t just make us remember — they make us feel.

From apple tarts at family gatherings to Mam’s soup after a rainy walk home, food becomes a bridge to our past.

“When we’re young, we eat with all our senses,” says Dr Kearney. “The sound of a kettle, the smell of stew, the texture of colcannon — these aren’t just memories. They’re part of our identity.”

At the heart of Dromod’s story is boxty — a traditional potato pancake that’s been made in Leitrim for generations. Dating back to pre-famine times, it’s still handmade in small batches and remains a beloved staple across the northwest.

“Boxty is a regional treasure,” Áine says. “It’s not just a recipe — it’s a piece of who we are. Like ham sandwiches on the way to a GAA match or a flask of tea on the sideline, these simple foods carry Irish culture.”

Founded by Timmy Faughnan in 1990 and now led by his daughter Áine, Dromod is proudly family-run — with a focus on handmade quality, Irish ingredients, and recipes that haven’t changed in decades.

The company’s products — including boxty, pancakes and potato bread — carry the Guaranteed Irish mark and Origin Green certification, but their mission remains simple: deliver the taste of home in every bite.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Dromod is offering 20% off and free delivery on all online orders for a limited time.

READ MORE Triple lock motion fails after heated clash among Leitrim councillors