Put the beef and bacon back in the pot and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir to mix everything together.
(At this point, if you want, you can put everything in a slow cooker. Follow the rest of the steps, and then cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
It needs to boil. Turn down the heat, cover, and let it cook for 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with crusty Irish soda bread or country bread. The next day, this soup tastes even better.
Enjoy !
