Tommy Bowe

Goes home for the Weekender

I’m from Emyvale,

Co Monaghan, right out in the sticks, but I haven’t lived there since I was at school. I went to college in Belfast and once I was gone, I was gone. I probably go home more now. It’s not that far from Belfast, and now that we have the little baby [Emma, born earlier this month], it might be a bit more. I love going home for the weekend, now, to see my family and catch up, as some of my friends have started settling down and moving back there.

My dad’s crispy duck

has become a family tradition. He makes it Asian style. I’ve no idea how, but it’s delicious. He used to work for Silver Hill Farm ducks, but now he has his own food company, BD Foods. So it’s a BD Foods duck now!

I’d allow myself a treat

because when I go home, it’s to relax. So on a Saturday, my brother David and I would get a Subway. That night, I might go to The Batch Loaf in Monaghan town for a bite to eat and then across the road to The Squealing Pig for a few pints and a catch-up with friends. The Squealing Pig also do good steaks. Gone are the days of the takeaway after; the few pints are enough.

On Sunday, I’d be resting,

but the family would be up running around and about. My mother would be horse riding, and I like to watch her. My wife Lucy and I would skip the big fry breakfast and save ourselves for the Sunday lunch. My mother always makes that; always lamb. Always worth staying for. Tommy Bowe is brand ambassador for Subway and their new BBQ Beef Burnt Ends sub, which is available for a limited time only #KeepDiscovering