Best 10 Irish Apples by Kevin Dudley, at the ISSA website includes: No. 1
1. IRISH PEACH (EARLY CROFTON)
Late July/Early August
The best of the summer apples to ripen and one of the best flavoured of the Irish varieties. One of four Irish desert apples from the Crofton Estate in Sligo, possibly dating back to the reign of Elizabeth 1 (late 1500s or early 1600s) This smallish green/yellow flushed with carmine striped crisp fruit was much planted in the UK in the 1900s and is a pure tip-bearer of moderate vigour with a spreading habit. The fruit is best eaten straight from the tree (or within two days of picking) when it has a crisp juicy texture and an aromatic/rich vinous flavour. This variety has little commercial potential as it quickly becomes soft and dry. The main problem is scab, which can affect the fruit badly with leaves and buds also getting scab to a lesser extent.
Other apples listed in the Best 10 Irish Apples:
WIDOWS FRIEND
KERRY PIPPIN
EIGHT SQUARE or KILL APPLE
CAVAN SUGARCANE
ARD CAIRN RUSSET
ROSS NON PAREIL
KILKENNY PEARMAIN
KEEGANS CRAB
SAM YOUNG
Read the article Best 10 Irish Apples to find out more details about Irish apples.
Sam Young apple. Illustration, copperplate engraving from “The Pomological Magazine’, editor John Lindley, published in London, by James Ridgeway in 1830.
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