Offaly woman serving up a taste of the good life with new business in Portugal
Clara native Alanna Murray has taken the Irish love of hearty food to the beaches of Algarve in the form of Sip and Graze, her new deli in Portugal.
Recently launched, Sip and Graze is located in the sunny fishing village of Alvor.
Nestled amidst quaint cobblestone streets and turquoise sea views the deli came into being when Alanna and her friend-turned-business partner Sinead Duddy decided to combine Irish hospitality with the Portuguese appreciation for fresh, local food.
Speaking about her entrepreneurial turn, Alanna said: “Being Irish, I always knew that food is more than what is on the plate. It is bonding and friendship, central to family time.
“Everyone has their individual favourite they look forward to on every occasion. Food is well-rooted in Portuguese culture also. I wanted to build on that with Sip and Graze.”
The Offaly woman said that glimpses of the Irish community spirit are visible in the atmosphere she is fostering at the eatery. “I come from Clara, a small town. I know the importance of community, that is one value that I have brought to Sip and Graze.”
Alanna has always been keen to travel and the world, to embrace new experiences but for her Alvor became more than a sun holiday.
“I love it here,” Alanna says of her adopted home. “Alvor became such a special place for me.
“The pace of life is slower. There are plenty of tourists, golfing is hugely popular and lots of Irish visit, but Alvor has kept its beauty and welcome. Families love it here, it is not hurried at all.”
Alanna and her Killurin-born fiancé Brian Keenaghan found that while the green fields of Offaly will forever be home, Alvor held something special.
The adventurous couple decided to return to Alvor after exploring other parts of the world, including Australia, where they lived for two years. In Australia Alanna found the first inspiration for a business opportunity waiting to be developed.
There Alanna embraced her love of bespoke catering, creating and designing personalised menus for events. “My platters were very popular. They suited all tastes and I loved doing it too,” she said.
While life in Australia was good, the charm of Alvor brought them back to Algarve in 2025 and the couple began to make the seaside town their permanent home.
Luckily for Alanna, the Irish tourist community is quite robust in Portugal, helping her not to feel homesick. “The Irish scene here is really big, we soon formed a strong network and felt we were becoming part of a community,” she explained.
Her friendship with Omagh woman Sinead sowed the seeds of a business together. The two women shared a keen interest in the food culture and, as Alanna had done in Australia, Sinead had been designing platters in Alvor for weddings and events.
“We wanted to build something different. What we offer is that uniquely Irish interest in people, in good food and service and we have married that with the exceptional produce available to create our own niche,” said Alanna.
“It is always a big thing to create a business, build it from the ground up. But we have a strong and supportive business community in Alvor, and everyone has been so encouraging.
“We appreciate that and the feedback from our customers has been so positive,” said Alanna, adding, “We want to give a taste of the best of Alvor but with an ‘Offaly’ warm welcome!”