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MERCY HEIGHTS MINI COMPANIES PROJECTThe Fourth Year students of Mercy Heights Secondary School, Skibbereen undertook the marketing of Christmas Hampers as a part of their mini companies project for 2004. The Hampers were made up inclusively of products from the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative/Fuchsia Brands. The Students with the help of their teacher Ann Hayes approached all the business in the Skibbereen area with sample hampers, and as a result, over one hundred and fifty hampers were sold. All of the proceeds of the project went to the Meningitis Society of Ireland. The students must be congratulated on the hard work they put into making the project successful, from marketing to sourcing products, packaging and distribution.
HARTES EUROSPAR PROMOTION & COOKERY DEMONSTRATIONThe West Cork Regional Branding Initiative in association with Hartes Eurospar held a two day instore promotion and cooking demonstration on Thursday 21st & Friday 22nd October. The two day cooking demonstration was by Fionula Harkin formerly of Fionula's Restaurant, Clonakilty. Customers were treated to inspirational and easy to prepare dishes and lots of tips on easy, quick meals using produce from the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative. Products from the following companies were also available for tastings: Carbery Natural Cheese, Irish Yogurts, Callatrim Foods, Padraigin's Pizza, Union Hall Smoked Fish.
KINSALE AUTUMN FLAVOURS FOOD FESTIVALOn Friday 8th of October the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative in association with the Kinsale Autumn Flavours Food Festival held a very successful afternoon of cheese and wine tastings in the Folkhouse Kinsale. The event was co-ordinated by John McDonald of the Australian Wine Bureau and Bill Hogan of the West Cork Natural Cheese Company and had an attendance of over one hundred people. Both John & Bill gave examples of matching the different cheeses with the various flavoured wines. The Fuchsia Branded cheeses that were used for the afternoon were as follows: West Cork Natural Cheese Company, Durrus Cheese, Milleens Cheese, Gallan, Carbery Natural Cheese, and Carrigaline Farmhouse Cheese.
FOOD & WINE EVENING, DUNMANWAYOn Friday 8th of October the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative in association with O'Connells Supervalu Dunmanway held their second Taste of West Cork Food and Wine Evening in the Parkway Hotel Dunmanway, all proceeds of the evening going to Dunmanway Day Care Centre and Dunmanway Hospital. Eighteen Fuchsia Brands food producers displayed and sampled their wide range of products including farmhouse cheeses, smoked salmon, preserves, confectionary etc. to over two hundred people on the night. Mr. John Galvin, Manager of O'Connells Supervalu, expressed sincere thanks to Fuchsia Brands and the producers for their help in making the event possible. Mr Galvin promised to continue his support for Fuchsia Brand producers instore and encouraged others present to do likewise.
IRELAND AM SHOWThe TV3 Breakfast Show, Ireland AM, was filmed live from the Lodge & Spa, Inchydoney Island, Clonakilty on September 23rd. A cooking demonstration was given of a traditional Irish Breakfast using local West Cork Produce affiliated under the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative.
EXPRESSION - AN EXPLORATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PRODUCECommissioned and co-ordinated by West Cork LEADER Co-op as a project for Cork City European Capital of Culture 2005, John Minihan's intimate and informal portraits explore the theme that West Cork's acclaimed food produce reflects the personality of the individual as well as the influences of tradition and environment. A selection of the portraits will be on continuous display throughout the year of Cork's European Capital of Culture at two venues, entry to which is free. The Farmgate Restaurant will host the major part of the exhibition and is located in the English Market, which is very much the heart of the City's vibrant food culture. Ó Conaill Artisan Chocolatiers on French Church Street will host a further selection in keeping with its mission of bringing West Cork into the city.
A TASTE OF WEST CORK FOOD FESTIVAL 2004'A Taste of West Cork' Food Festival took place in Skibbereen from September 16th to 19th 2004. The festival was organised by Skibbereen Business Promotions in association with the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative. The festival consisted of a wide variety of events including 'A Taste of West Cork' Banquet which took place on Thursday 16th September in the magnificent mystic surroundings of the Church Restaurant. The menu for this Banquet was comprised of all West Cork food produce and prepared by the chefs of the local restaurants. This event was an evening of culinary and sumptuous delights. West Cork Arts Centre organised a variety of workshops including Food Sculpture Workshops and a Puppet Workshop producing a fairy-tail story on a food theme. Claudia Kinnmonth gave a very interesting talk on the Traditional Irish Kitchen while Regina Sexton, Ireland's leading food historian, visited the local schools and gave a story telling session in the Library on Saturday morning the 18th. The West Cork Arts Centre Drop-In Drama Group performed 'What Happens When The Fridge is Closed' in the Town Hall on the Saturday. The official opening of a Photo Exhibition titled EXPRESSION; EXPLORATION - PERSON… PLACE... PRODUCT… took place on Friday 16th at the Abbeystrewry Church of Ireland. Throughout the weekend the local supermarkets presented in store food demonstrations and food and wine tastings. There was free street entertainment and the local restaurants, café's and bars offered a variety of menus featuring local West Cork produce. The Festival concluded with an open air street market on Sunday 19th. Skibbereen's Main Street was turned into a heaven for food lovers with over 50 market stalls with cookery demonstrations, food sampling and tastings. For further information on 'A Taste of West Cork Food Festival' contact Eilis Cohalan, Skibbereen Business Promotions, 028 22332 or Kevin Santry, West Cork Regional Branding Initiative, 023 34035. Click here to view programme of events. Click here to download poster.
THE WEST CORK GARDEN PARTYThe West Cork Garden Party held in the Glengarriff Bamboo Park on Bank Holiday Sunday August 2nd once again proved very successful with over 1,000 people in attendance and attracting a great deal of media coverage. "For the isle formerly known as emerald these are interesting times. After the Celtic Tiger and Ireland's brief glory as a source of software production comes the hour of the food island and its incarnation in the serrated peninsulas and jagged promontories that make up the scenery of the dazzling south-west. Witness a place apart, gourmet west Cork." - Hadyn Shaughnessy of the Irish Times writes on the West Cork Garden Party. A number of food producers affiliated with the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative displayed their extensive range of locally produced products for purchase. Among these were West Cork Natural Cheese, Ummera Smoked Products, Union Hall Smoked Fish, Beara Preserves, Martin Carey's Butchers, O'Conaills Chocolates and Padraigin's Gourmet Pizzas to name but a few. Craft exhibitors were also well represented by Hillary Hale, woodturner, Ruth O'Connell, stain glass, and Ann Murphy, jeweler. As visitors explored the gardens with its 30 different species of bamboo and spectacular views, they enjoyed the song, dance and traditional Irish music of the Owenabue Valley Traditional Group, with some visitors even taking part in a dance or two. Children were not forgotten as Mo the Clown entertained a captive audience with plate turning, balloon modeling, juggling and lots more. This is the second year the Garden Party was held following much persuasion by the many enthusiastic requests from last year for a repeated event and is a great way to showcase what the region has to offer, bringing together its renowned food, crafts and traditional music in a spectacular and unique setting. Click here to view poster. "For the isle formerly known as emerald the rebranding means there are several new words out there to describe the progress to a gourmet Ireland. Not least among them; Fancy!" - Hadyn Shaughnessy, Irish Times.
SHEEP'S HEAD WAY GUIDE BOOK & MAP LAUNCHEDIan Dempsey, CEO West Cork LEADER Co-op, launched the second edition of the Sheep's Head Way Guide Book in Ahakista on July 31st 2004. The walk is over 100km in length taking in the Sheep's Head Peninsula and the general Bantry area. It takes the walker over ridge and shoreline in turn starting or finishing anywhere one wishes. "Without the spirit of co-operation by those involved from the Muintir Bhaire community it would not be the success it is", Paddy Sheehan, Mayor or Cork County said. He also described the Sheep's Head Way as the magnificent result of the hard work done by an efficient and effective committee.
ROCHES STORES PROMOTIONThe West Cork Regional Branding Initiative in association with Supervalu in Roches Stores Wilton and Patrick Street Cork held a week long instore promotion of West Cork products from Monday 5th to Saturday 10th of July. The promotion consisted of cooking demonstrations in both stores by Dianne Curtin, chef and food writer with The Evening Echo. Dianne, who had an enthusiastic audience, was in Wilton on Wednesday & Thursday 7th & 8th and in Patricks Street on Friday & Saturday 9th & 10th of July. All who attended sampled the delightful produce from the region, viewed the demonstrations of easy and inspirational dishes, got lot's of tips and ideas, and were also in with a chance to win one of twenty Fuchsia Brand Hampers with the 96fm Sticker Patrol. In addition to this, customers who purchased six or more Fuchsia products were entered into a draw for a midweek break in the 3* Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery and a weekend break in the newly refurbished 4* Trident Hotel, Kinsale. Winner of the draw was Margaret O'Herlihy, Carhuee, Bearings, Co Cork, who was presented with a weekend break for two in the Trident Hotel.
West Cork Food & Drink Fair Manning's Emporium BallylickeyOver a thousand people descended on picturesque Ballylickey on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th June 2004 for the Mannings Emporium Food Fair. The two day food extravaganza and beautiful weather brought both locals and tourists alike to the venue to sample food produce and wines from various parts of Ireland. The West Cork Regional Branding Initiative was well represented at the food fair with a total of ten food producers in attendance and a wide range of products available to the public for sampling. Special guests at the event were John & Sally McKenna who congratulated both Val Manning & West Cork LEADER on promoting the West Cork Region as a food and tourism destination. On Saturday the food quiz provided ample entertainment for the public whilst the cooking demonstration on Sunday was performed by Carmel of Good Thing's Cafe in Durrus and Ivan from the Grapefruit Moon Restaurant in Ballycotton. Other sponsors of the event were Kerry Spring, Bord Bia and South of Ireland Petroleum.
International Rural Tourism Workshop, LatviaAn International Rural Tourism Workshop took place in Riga, Latvia on June 2nd - 3rd, 2004. The Workshop was organised by the Latvian Country Tourism Association under patronage of EuroGites (European Federation of Farm and Village Tourism) and WTO (World Tourism Organisation) and with the support of Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia. Jean O'Sullivan, West Cork LEADER, was invited to present a paper on the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative, in particular focusing on the importance of training in developing a brand. 260 participants attended the workshop - half of which were foreign guests representing 30 countries in Europe and Asia.
Carole Nash Ireland Tour 2004On Thursday 27th May over 120 members of Porsche Club Great Britain visited the Cork City Gaol where the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative provided a banquet of fine foods and a showcase of what West Cork has to offer. The buffet consisted of a whole range of mouth watering food produced from the heart of West Cork, which included farmhouse cheeses, smoked salmon and chicken, black and white puddings, handmade chocolates, speciality breads and cakes etc, all of which were prepared and sumptuously presented by Andreas Habould and his staff of the Baking Emporium, Dunmanway. Michael Grimes who was the coordinator of the tour, in his after dinner speech, said to his colleagues, "We were not joking when we spoke to you about 'A Taste of West Cork', the food we had tonight you will agree is as memorable as the Irish hospitality". Entertainment was provided by the Owneabue Valley Traditional Group who entertained the guests with great Irish song and dance.
Fuchsia Excellence Awards 2004Fuchsia Brands and a host of enthusiastic sponsors held the second Fuchsia Excellence Awards in the Lodge & Spa at Inchydoney Island on Monday May 24th. The Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of West Cork business and individuals involved in the regional brand. In all fifteen awards were presented to the food and tourism businesses from sponsors including AIB, Bord Bia, Cork Kerry Tourism and the National Food Centre. Professor Dennis Lucey, UCC, who sponsored an award, said that the fifteen awards were an excellent demonstration of all the different disciplines that have been brought together to make West Cork Regional Brand the success that it is - from tourism marketing through to product innovation, from networking between members to using information technology for worldwide communication and from environmental performance through to enterprise growth. Pictured below are the award winners and sponsors on the night of the awards.
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