The official launch of the Burren Beef and Lamb Producers Group recently took place at Gregan's Castle hotel near Ballyvaughan. This exciting new venture was launched by Trevor Sargent T.D. Minister of State for Food and Horticulture. The Minister said he was delighted to be present to mark the launching of a pioneering farming and food partnership, based on the principles of conservation of the unique natural heritage of the Burren, quality of produce, and commitment to high standards of animal welfare. "The Burren Beef and Lamb Producers' Group and the Burren LIFE Project illustrate how a spirit of co-operation between a diversity of organisations - IFA, Teagasc, National Parks and Wildlife Service, LEADER - some of whom were considered adversaries in the past - can result in a very positive development to the benefit of all, the farmer, the conservationist and biodiversity" the Minister said.
The Managing Director of Gregan's Castle Hotel Mr Simon Haden pointed out that Tourism is changing rapidly and visitor's don't come to Ireland for the scenery and the people anymore. "In some instances the scenery has been degraded by over development and in other respects the Irish welcome is not what it used to be. We need therefore to find other reasons to stand out, and good food is the obvious choice. It can also be combined with, for example walking and cultural tourism, both of which the Burren is ideally suited to". Mr Haden also said local food helps connect people to a place and enhances their overall experience - it is part of the place. "Ireland has a clean green image which makes marketing food tourism all the easier, he continued, and the word is out about good Irish cooking so we must maintain this by producing quality locally produced ingredients".
Gregan's received their first delivery of Lamb in June and Head Chef Adrian O'Farrell created a tasting plate of Burren lamb as part of the dinner menu. It includes oven roasted rack, sauté fillet, and pan-fried liver, with a Celeriac puree and a port wine jus. "It has been hugely popular with guests O'Farrell told those present, and while the beef only arrived a week ago ,we have found that it also is of a high quality".
Other speakers at the launch included Chairperson of the Producers group Mr.Thomas Holmes who thanked the farmers involved to date, and Mr. Ruairi O Conchuir of the BurrenLIFE Project. Following the launch guests were treated to a sampling of the beef and lamb.
Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoonvarna
Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoonvarna, won another prestigious award: Best Irish Product of the Show SHOP 2007 for our new and innovative Honey, Lemon and Pepper Hot Smoked Irish Organic Salmon.The Burren Smokehouse is particularly pleased to achieve this prestigious award for the second time in a row. Last year, the same major award was given to our Organic Hot and Cold Smoked Salmon Platter. The SHOP 2007 is an annual three day event in Dublin for retailers, wholesalers and producers of fine quality foods from Ireland. The Enterprise boards of Ireland took a stand at the event for Small Artisan Food producers of Ireland like the Burren Smokehouse, which was sponsored by their local Clare Enterprise Board. The Burren Smokehouse focuses on independent specialty food shops like Donnybrook Fair, Morton's of Ranelagh, Morton's of Galway, Ivan's of Caherdavin Limerick, Joyce's in Galway and high-end retailers, but also supplies selected Super Values in Dublin, Galway, Ballybunion, and Londis, Spar and Centra Stores in the Mid West region.
With the win of Best Irish Product again this year we have a lot of interested new customers. We exhibited in London on the same days for the Speciality Food Fair in Olympia on the Bord Bia stand and picked up lots of new leads there as well. We are new to the UK market and we got a great response to our large product range including Smoked Eel, Smoked Arctic Char, Smoked Fish Platters in 3 different sizes, Cold and Hot Smoked Salmon organic from Clare Island Salmon and premium all from Irish Farms. The Irish farmed Salmon compared to Scottish and Norwegian Salmon is far superior in quality and taste! Burren Smokehouse is a family run business by Peter and Birgitta Curtin with over 18 years of experience in the Smoking Business. We retail in our Visitor Centre, wholesale, ship worldwide with Mailorder and do websales. We Smoke exclusively Irish fish from the West Coast of Ireland because it is local, fresh and top Quality!
We have numourous Great Taste Awards and have been recommended by John and Sally McKenna since 1996.
Tel: +353 65 7074 432 Fax: +353 65 7074 303
