Ballyhoura Food Fair now a monthly event!

I will be heading along on the 3rd of May to the new Ballyhoura Food Fair which will take place in Kilmallock on Bank Holiday Mondays throughout the Summer months.

What better way to spend your Bank Holiday’s than sampling some of Ireland’s finest food produce while enjoying the fabulous summer weather that we have been promised!!



The Ballyhoura Food Fair, which will take pride of place in front of the Neo Data site in Kilmallock and will feature up to 30 artisan food producers from the Ballyhoura Country area and beyond. Kids entertainment has been arranged, so it is sure to be a day of fun for all the whole family!

3rd May Bank Holiday Monday 10am – 3pm

7th June Bank Holiday Monday 10am – 3pm

5th July 1st Monday in July 10am – 3pm

2nd August Bank Holiday Monday 10am – 3pm

For further information, contact

 Marian on 087 2769859  087 2769859

or

 James on 087 2717721   087 2717721.

Charleville Farmers Market - Co. Cork Farmers Market

Well I finally made it out of Limerick to visit one of the farmers markets from slightly farther afield this morning.

After a misty and cold start things had cleared up when I arrived in Charleville. The market is very easy to find and is located in the corner of the main car park so access is not a problem!

A really nice collection of stands and again the flooding had reduced the numbers and selection slightly but I was still impressed with the quality of products available.

My first stop was with Eileen Toomey from Banamore Cottage Garden, who has a range of fresh herbs on offer as well as a selection of home made preserves, Jams and Jellies and after having sampled the hedgerow jelly I can testify to the taste and quality of the product!


Next door was Jenny's Catering offering sausage baps pancakes and a selection of other hot food, which with the weather being as cold as it was was much in demand!

Liz Slattery from Pink Sugar was selling an amazing range of cakes buns and other sweet treats to tempt the passerby and just the sight of some of those perfectly produced home made sweet things twisted my rubber arm!

I am in danger of being slapped with a restraining order at this stage if I meet The Old Creamery or Ballyhoura Apple people again! But I really am becoming addicted to that Apple Juice!!

There was a real family presence on the Ballyhoura stand with Maurice, Ciaran and Stan Gilbert dishing out delicious and sweet mulled Apple Juice Mmmmmm!

Sean Daily had his wide range of fruit and Veg on display at the Market Garden stall and Vincent Daily from West Coast Seafood was next door.

The Final stall I visited was belonging to Brigid Collins of The Bakers Basket. Again a delicious range of baked goods which are preservative, yeast and additive free!

The Charleville market has a lot to offer and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Co. Cork.

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Farmers Market at The Parkway Shopping Center Limerick

Those wise people at the Parkway are utilising the space in the main area every Wednesday to move their Farmers Market indoors! A very much appreciated move as far as I am concerned it made a nice change to be able to take photos at this time of the year and not worry about the wind and rain!

There was a nice selection of stalls there today but a few of the normal stall holders fell victim to the floods and could not make it. But there was plenty to see ( and taste ! ).

Ballyhoura Apple farm produce some of the most delicious apple juice and I am slowly becoming addicted! They have a lovely gift pack of bottles that makes a great present at anytime of the year and their apple cider Vinegar is also very popular.

Kielys Garden Centre also have an extensive range of plants on offer and come nice Christmas decorations and Cards on sale.

For those with a sweet tooth there is lots on offer! With Wilde Irish Chocolates and Sunflower Bakery Offering a wide selection of sweet treats.

Vi Russell from Sunflower Bakery ( pictured here with Roger Beck Center Manager ) also has a delicious range of Savory treats on offer for the palate.

Old Irish Creamery were also on hand with a wide selection for Cheeses and as always provided lots of samples to help you choose.

This market is an excellent addition to Limerick and offers those at the other side of town an opportunity to get some delicious products while still getting the normal shop done as well.

I will update this entry again when more of the stalls are there, But it is well worth a visit.

Crescent Shopping Centre Farmers Market – Limerick Every Wed

On what turned out to be the most atrocious day for weather in weeks I went along to the Farmers Market at the Crescent Shopping Centre today.

I’m getting to be an old hand at this stage and am actually meeting some Familiar faces! Between the markets and other Events I cover on this website and
For Customers I now know quite a lot of the faces (and Food) :-)

Located in the Shopping Centre Car park with plenty of parking space around it the Crescent Market is incredibly well organised. The area is closed off and offers
Easy access and exit to all of the stalls.

So on to the Good stuff!

Firstly I went to Fleur De Sel who do a mouth watering range of Galletes and Crepes ( a Gallete is a thin buckwheat flower pancake. And yes I had to Google it! )
With an extensive range of sweet and savoury fillings available it’s a perfect treat or quick snack!


Marks Cheese was next Door with an eclectic collection of Cheeses meats and Salami. Next Door was the stand from Ballyhoura Apple Farm with fresh Apple Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar on offer. It was a good day if you are a cheese fan ( and I am !) as next to Ballyhoura was the Old Irish Creamery stand. They have been heaped with acclaim and awards in the last 12 Months with both national and international awards in fact it now runs to over 14 awards in the last Year! They have an extensive range of Cheeses from Irish Whiskey and Red Wine to Blueberry and my personal favourite Chilli Cheese! With loads of samples available I went away happy!


Colette O’Farroll’s Stand is called Nature’s Bounty and her Curraghchase Relish has to be tasted to believed. First developed to suit her Neighbour in Curraghchase Caroline Rigneys Free Range Pork it has proved to be an award winning success!
Not stopping there Colette has extended her product range to include Jams and Chutneys and I have to say I give them the thumbs up! I also sampled her rind less Marmalade Yum!!


And who has the stand next door but Caroline Rigney from Curraghchase Meats, Caroline has had amazing success with her Free Range Rare Breed Pork products and the distinctive and amazing smell from her rashers cooking would drag any house from their slumber and to the breakfast table. She produces Black Puddings and pork burgers as well as pork cuts and despite the weather her stock was flying off the stand. Caroline says that she finds that they get an amazing amount of repeat business from people who have tasted their products. And I have to say having had breakfast at the Farmhouse B&B in Curraghchase that Rigneys Farm has the most amazing breakfast I have ever had!


With what has to be one of the best names I have come across in a while John Collery and Garreth Granville of “ Licence to Grill “ will cater for you empty belly with gourmet breakfast baps and Steak Sandwiches made to order.
Speaking with John he says that they try and use as much of the products from neighbouring stands as they can for the eggs bacon salad and sauces. The result is mouth watering and the smell was dragging people in despite the showers.


The next stall was a dieter’s nightmare with Pauline’s cream filled cakes buns and homemade baked goods leaving me drooling. Only the smell of the coffee coming from Dara Byrne’s Golden Bean Coffee Company stand pulled me away. Offering Latte, Espresso, Mocha and lots of other caffeine fuelled concoctions.
For those who suffer from intolerance for Wheat and Gluten Then Mary O’Doherty’s celiac certified products would provide a welcome change. Offering a range of products from breads to tarts they offer a tasty treat without any risk of allergic reactions.


Back on familiar territory next door with David Mc Caffrey from Sallymills bakery with his usual extensive range of baked goods including breads scones and a range of Christmas Puddings.

For the carnivores among us, Quarrymount’s stand manned by Ray Dunn offered a selection of free range meat and Eggs.
Maurice Hannnon also had a selection of Wheat and Gluten Free products on his stall. Next door was a selection of gourmet pies from Steven Neillings and Brid Ni Mhathuna from Piog Gourmet Pies, with fillings like Beef and Guinness, Salmon and Haddock and Kerry lamb and Vegetable on offer.


Trevor and Dawn Mc Namara from Ballycotton Fish provide an amazing selection of omega oil rich fish products and will prepare them for you on the spot. And so far Trevor still has all his digits! Next door taking care of all your Vegatable requirements was Gerard Fenniman from Kiltanna Produce with fresh Veg straight from the ground to the market. Gerard is a regular attendee of the Newcastle west Market on Sat Mornings.

Around the corner and another treat for the Caffeine addict with Brona Martin providing a fix from a wide selection of coffee beans and an extensive range of Teas as well.
And next door as a perfect accompaniment to your breakfast fry up, some gorgeous Mushrooms from “ Mushrooms from Tipperary “ with a wide selection of stuffed mushrooms and a tasty and popular mushroom pate on offer to sample.
For those brave enough to face the elements then M&G Mc Namara stall had a great choice of plants and shrubs on offer.

And last and by no means least (and a pure coincidence that I always finish at the Chocolate stands..... ;-)) was Chocolates by Patrick, as a fully trained and qualified chocolatier Patrick Rahilly offers a select choice of handmade chocolates and mini muffins made from blackberries picked in season. With a mouth watering range of fillings his chocolates are a feast for the eyes and the belly!


Overall I have to say that the choice and variety of produce available makes this a very worthwhile market to visit. With parking easy to find and also the option to do your other shopping at the same time as picking up a bargain or just a delicious snack you can’t go far wrong with the Crescent Shopping Centre Farmers Market.

Open every Wed from 9:20 to 2:30 in the car park near Mc Donald’s.

Slideshow below and Full Gallery [ Here ]

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Photos from UL Farmers Market - Fresh Produce At The University of Limerick

Established as an initiative of the University of Limerick Environmental Committee over a year ago, the farmers market at UL boasts a wide variety of vendors. It is held in the students union courtyard every Tuesday from 12 to 5:30.


The popularity of the market with both students and staff was evident today as despite the intermittent heave rain showers the flow of customers was steady.



The stalls onsite today included the following.
Sara Woulfe – El Chilli Loco - Serving a deliciously spicy selection of salsas Pickles and Sauces, as well as amazing homemade soup, Just the thing for students in a hurry!
Next Door was Marion Roelevid from Killeen Farm with a wide selection of Goat and cow’s milk cheeses with a delicious choice of flavours on offer.
Peter “The Pie Man” Gibson offers a variety of... well Pies I guess! But no boring soggy ham and chicken here instead a selection of Duck Pies Dry Cured Bacon and Courgette, and Beef and Guinness were the order of the day. I can’t see any students coming home to Mum complaining of not eating with delicacies like these on offer!
For those with even more adventurous taste buds Tom Gems was producing fresh Sushi and I have to saw i was licky to get a photo of a full plate with the speed that this stuff was disappearing, It’s a long way from the curry chips I had to sustain me on my lunch bread when I was in College!


Stephanie Guerin from Adare Farm was also here selling fresh corn on the cob from the crop planted to feed hungry farmers at the ploughing championships. It was available au-natural or as vacuumed packed cobs for freshness!

Keeping on the Fresh Veg track there was an amazingly wide selection of Veg from the Lough Boora Farm Organic Vegetables stand. This is a very innovative organisation who offers a shopping basket service allowing customers to order their veg and collect it in lovely wicker baskets all ready to go. The baskets are returned and reused! For more information on this great idea contact Tony Garahy on 086-2668217.


Across the courtyard lay some treats of a sweeter nature!
Firstly I visited Fran Dowling on her Fruit and Nut Bakes stall. With both sweet and Savoury items on offer from raspberry and almond bakes to sundried tomato pesto and feta slices!


Right next door was the familiar face of David Mc Caffrey from Sallymills Bakery, I had met David before at Limericks Milk Market, He had his usual amazing selection of cakes and treats on offer including delicious carrot cake ( one of my personal favourites ) Sallymills won a Gold medal for confectionary in the recent Blas na hEireann Food Awards so the quality of their products is plain to see.


For those looking to top up on their omega oils Stephen Joyce was on hand with a selection of fresh fish and Shellfish and with Ling and Pollock Fillets for only €10 per KG it was a busy day for Stephen, who by the way will prepare your fish for you so it is pan, oven or grill ready!




I saved the Wilde Irish Artisan Chocolate Makers Stall for last!
Based in Tuamgraney in Co. Clare ( Near Scariff ) near the shores of Lough Derg. They offer a wide selection of products and their fair-trade and organic bars have won awards at the Great Taste Awards.
Also selling almost every kind of fudge you could think of from Pistachio to Porter! You are sure to find something to your taste!
Some of the regular stalls like Ginger Girl were not there today (She’s busy with Wedding preparations!) but event the weather could not dampen the feeling that it Is initiatives like this that will keep the Irish pallet used to the better things with great value and fresh products sold in a great atmosphere!


This will also be the location for a Craft fair on the first 3 Tuesdays of December with Craft Irems from Local Craftspeople UL Staff and Postgrads.


A slide show is below and all the photos are available online [ Here ]

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