Malaysian Chef, Woodland Retreat, E-Bike Ramble: Off the Beaten Craic in Leitrim - Days 7 & 8
Irish Stew’s latest “Off the Beaten Craic” adventure in County Leitrim discovers three new ways to slow down, tune in, and taste this corner of Ireland, through food, forest, and a gentle spin along the Jackalope Trail.
First, we meet Malaysian‑born chef and restaurateur Sham Hanifa. At age 20 he answered an ad to work in Ireland, arriving in Carrick‑on‑Shannon jet‑lagged and short on money, but today he anchors the local food scene with The Cottage, My Kitchen, and Buffalo Boy, blending Irish ingredients with his Thai‑Chinese‑Indian‑Malay heritage.
And he loves Irish Stew, though he was referring to the edible not the audio version.
“What I say is Irish stew is comfort food, packed with flavor and a good‑hearted dish,” he explains, insisting he won’t “mess around” with its unique Irish character even as he adds subtle Asian notes elsewhere on the menu. That respect for Irish produce interpreted with Asian flavors has turned Sham’s Leitrim restaurants into dining destinations
The episode moves next to the Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, opened to guests in 2022 and featuring 11 self‑catering lodges tucked seamlessly into mature woodland. Sustainability, local partnerships, and wellbeing shape the experience, from an onsite café and private‑chef dinners to a sanctuary with seaweed baths, sauna, and cold plunge.
“They arrive stressed on Friday, and when you meet them on a Sunday they’re completely Zen, which I think is what we’re all about,” says co-founder and marketing manager Alison Moffatt.
The podcasters then roam towards Drumshanbo for a “slow adventure” on the Jackalope Trail with Eileen Gibbons of Electric Bike Trails. Inspired by seeing e-bikes on Ireland’s Greenway network, Eileen and her husband Seamus created guided rides that trade speed for stories—linking canal-side cycling with local heritage and the wider tourism scene.
“We take people along at a slow rate, stop along the way at interesting spots, all with a little bit of joke and a little bit of fun, and maybe even a bit of song,” she says.
The Jackalope Trail leads to The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney, distillers of Drumshanbo Whisky and Irish Gunpowder Gin, part of Co. Leitrim’s innovative culinary incubator The Food Hub, both to be featured in the next and final episode of Irish Stew’s “Off the Beaten Craic” series.
Links
Sham Hanifa
Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway
Electric Bike Trails
Irish Stew Links
- Website
- Media Partner: IrishCentral
- Travel Partner: Tourism Ireland
Episode Details: Season 8, Episode 4; Total Episode Count: 145
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Sham Hanifa's Irish Stew
02:51 - Coming to Leitrim
07:35 - Adapting to Ireland
10:36 - Adapting to Irish Food
12:17 - Branching Out
19:47 - Leveraging Malysian Diversity
23:27 - Managing Multiple Locations
26:25 - The Cookbook
29:54 - Sham's Seamus plug
31:11 - Introducing Alison Moffatt
32:43 - Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway
35:00 - The Drumhierny Experience
37:23 - Closeby Drumhierney
39:53 - Introducing Eileen Gibbons
41:35 - The Electric Bike Experience
44:37 - John & Martin Recap
46:13 - Credits
Chef / Restauranteur / Sauce Maker / Media Contributor
Shamzuri (Sham) Hanifa, a native of Malaysia, moved to Ireland over 14 years ago seeking new opportunities and experiences. Steeped in a tradition and love of the freshest foods and inspired by his grandmother’s flavorsome cooking, Sham started his culinary career at 12! He has worked his way up through every stage of the catering world, from kitchen porter to head chef. At the age of 20, his whirlwind Irish adventure began in leading restaurants in the West of Ireland. Little did he know then that he would spend the next 14 years here, meet and marry an Irish girl, start a family, before settling in Jamestown in 2008 to open his own restaurant, the acclaimed The Cottage Restaurant.
Co-Founder / Marketing Manager
Alison Moffatt is Co-Founder and Marketing Manager of Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, an award-winning eco-luxury retreat nestled on a 100-acre estate in County Leitrim, Ireland. Since opening in 2022, Drumhierny has captivated guests with its unique blend of sustainable luxury, featuring 16 eco-friendly woodland lodges, an outdoor wellbeing sanctuary, and 5km of forest trails winding through ancient oak woodlands and historic fairy forts.
At HubSpot, where she served as a Customer Success Manager, building her expertise in customer experience, portfolio management, and strategic growth. Her background in SaaS and customer-centric business operations has proven invaluable in creating the exceptional guest experiences that have earned Drumhierny recognition, including a Highly Commended award in the Sustainability category at the SFA National Small Business Awards.
Alison holds a degree from Technological University Dublin and is based in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Founder / Director
Eileen Gibbons is co-founder and director of Electric Bike Trails, a pioneering bike hire business established in 2012 in Leitrim Village, County Leitrim, Ireland. Drawing on her background as a former scientific officer with Leitrim County Council, Eileen brings both environmental expertise and deep local knowledge to her work promoting sustainable tourism in the region.
Together with her husband Seamus, she has made the Leitrim countryside accessible to visitors of all fitness levels through electric and conventional bike hire, offering guided tours and self-guided adventures along the Shannon Blueway and Shannon Erne Blueway. As an active member of the Leitrim Recreation Forum, Eileen has been instrumental in developing the region's outdoor recreation infrastructure, including the iconic floating boardwalk on Acres Lake. With the Gibbons family rooted in Leitrim for over a century, Eileen's commitment to environmental stewardship, community development, and showcasing the county's natural beauty has established Electric Bike Trails as a cornerstone of Leitrim's sustainable tourism offerings.
