Good Food...The Wicklow Way

Good Food … the Wicklow way launched by Minister Éamon Ó Cuív Thursday 1st March 2007

Delicious smells and mouth-watering tastes were the order the launch of a stunning guide to 20 artisan food producers and markets in Co. Wicklow.

In the atmospheric setting of Macreddin Chapel, The Brook Lodge & Wells Spa, Macreddin, Co Wicklow Thursday 1st March, Wicklow’s cream of artisan food producers and markets laid out their wares in an astonishing array of colour and dedication to quality in front of food buyers from restaurants and supermarkets across the county.

Good Food … the Wicklow way features stunning photographs of the county’s rich natural environment and its artisan produce and farmers’ and country markets, as well as details on the produce available and where to find the producers and markets. The booklet, produced by Wicklow Rural Partnership, was launched by Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

“Wicklow hosts a wide range of on-farm or home-based speciality food producers, making high-quality food products like cheese, ice-cream, chocolates or organic vegetables and wild Irish game,” said Ruth Pritchard of Wicklow Rural Partnership. “This guide will encourage people to buy the excellent foods that are produced locally, either directly from the producer, fresh from the home or farm, or at farmers’ and country markets across the county.

“When you buy these foods, you’re buying from someone within your community, someone who’s passionate about what they do and can describe it to you. That connection means you can also afford to try something a bit different. Talking to the producer and sampling the food gives you a chance to explore different foods in a way you might not from large retail outlets.”

The launch was hosted by Wicklow-based food writer Paolo Tullio in, with food tastings available from the county’s top artisan producers. The bountiful range of foods available included mouth-watering sorbet ice creams, timelessly tasty breads, luxury handmade chocolates, exotic tea blends, award-winning marinades and organic lamb.

“This good food guide is a perfect example of how local groups can make the most of indigenous rural resources,” said Minister Ó Cuív TD. “In terms of countryside recreation, the booklet will provide tourists with yet another reason to visit this stunning part of the country. This is in line with the Government’s rural development strategy, which emphasises the promotion of agri-tourism and diversification into non-farming activities in rural areas.

“Under the new National Development Plan announced last week, the total investment allocated to the LEADER National Rural Economy Scheme is €461m – a trebling of its funding. I commend Wicklow Rural Partnership for this fine booklet and am confident that it will prove highly successful in raising the profile of the excellent artisan food producers in the Wicklow area.”

The spectacular richness of Wicklow’s natural environment is mirrored in the quality and distinction of the Garden County’s natural produce. Whether organic or farm-prepared, home-baked or bottled, Wicklow’s artisan producers honour the integrity of their natural ingredients.

The entire event and the quality of food on offer was an example of the astounding interest in good food, how it’s produced and in eating in season, said Mr Tullio. Ireland, and indeed Co. Wicklow, is perceived as a lush, green, clean country and we should strive to keep foods pure and market Ireland as a source of pure food, and not genetically modified foods, he told the gathering.

“Wicklow’s small food producers are a vital component in rural development,” said Brian Kehoe, manager of Wicklow Rural Partnership, which is responsible for the delivery of a number of initiatives in Co. Wicklow, including the LEADER programme. This guide to artisan producers and markets is a useful marketing opportunity for Wicklow’s food producers to showcase their produce before visitors to and residents of the county. Indeed, a reflection of that double economic and tourism benefit to artisan food production was shown by the financial support to the guide by Wicklow County Enterprise Board and Wicklow County Tourism.

Copies of Good Food … the Wicklow way are available from local shops, delicatessens and tourism sites across Wicklow and from Wicklow County Tourism at 0404 20070 and Wicklow Rural Partnership on 0404 46977.

To get an entire copy of this guide please download it from the downloads page

Wicklow Rural Partnership Ltd., Saville House, Saville's Cross, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Tel: +353 404 46977, Fax: + 353 404 46978, Email: info@wicklowleader.ie