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Food Tourism Development Network meets with Food on the Menu

Failte Ireland attending a meeting of the Food Tourism Development Network to discuss the road ahead for food tourism in Ireland with Failte Ireland Food Champions from across Ireland at the Strand Hotel in Limerick. Photo: Oisin McHugh True Media

More than 30 members of the Food Tourism Development Network – comprised of Fáilte Ireland ‘Food Champions’ from across Ireland –  are meeting with Fáilte Ireland today to discuss the road ahead for food tourism in Ireland at the Strand Hotel in Limerick.

The meeting will look at findings and insights in food tourism development and outline a future vision for the development of Food in Tourism in Ireland in the coming years. Fáilte Ireland Food Champion’s will also present a progress update on the new food tourism initiatives being undertaken by them as part of their Food Champion role.

Food Tourism Development Network

Seaneen Sullivan, Dublin Spirit Trail, Padraic Og Gallagher, Brews & Stews and Katie Quigley, Delicious Dublin Tours at Failte Irelands Food Tourism Development Network meeting at the Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick. Photo: Oisin McHugh True Media


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The group are comprised of dedicated people who work with their local community to help build Ireland’s food tourism reputation. The Champions were chosen for their resounding passion and belief in Irish food, together with a commitment and drive to actively influence and shape the future of Irish cuisine and food tourism in their area.

John Mulcahy Head of Food Tourism with Fáilte Irelands said: “As we enter into the second year of the Food Champion cycle, with a number of innovative food projects delivered and underway, and a lot of energy on the ground, this network is going from strength to strength with all focused on realising Ireland’s immense food potential.

Food is now an essential part of the overall visitor experience to Ireland, impacting destination choice, so it’s important that when visitors arrive they receive a quality food experience that is representative of place throughout their stay. With visitors to Ireland spending some €2billion on food every year, it is our job in the tourism industry to ensure we put our best ingredients and flavours on the plate when it comes to giving visitors the experiences they want.”

Some of the initiatives from the Food Champions include:
Olivia Duff (Meath) – Boyne Valley Banquet at the Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery
Jacinta Dalton (Galway) – The People’s Picnic at Electric Picnic
Tom Flavin (Limerick) – Pigtown Food Series
Claire Dalton (Waterford) – Food – The Waterford Way
Gearoid Lynch (Cavan) – Cavan Food Forum
Ruth Healy (Cork) – Cork Character Cafes
Seaneen Sullivan (Dublin) – Dublin Spirit Trail
Mark Murphy (Kerry) – “An Bord Fada” Wild Atlantic Way Long Table
Kevin Ahern (Cork) – Feast – East Corks Food & Drink Festival
Brid Torrades (Sligo) – The Wild Atlantic Salmon Route
Ketty Elizabeth (Dublin) – Howth Food Tour
Padraic Óg Gallagher (Dublin) – Brews & Stews
Chris Molloy (Donegal) – Tasting Menu of Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way

The role of a Food Tourism Development Network is to help spread the vision and values of Irish Food Tourism and the brand experiences among customers, media, food and tourism businesses, and other stakeholders. They will assist in mobilising local food and tourism businesses to help grow awareness of the importance of Food Tourism as a driver of economic growth.

For more information on Failte Ireland click here

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.