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Food & Drink

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‘Ireland - the Food Island’ is renowned worldwide for its food and drink industry

  • Burren SmokehouseIreland exported over €8.16 billion worth of food and drinks in 2008 according to Bord Bia.
  • The food sector has been the backbone of the rural West for generations.
  • This sector employed 6,000 people in the West in 2002 and is one of the top employers in Donegal and Roscommon.

Organic Centre Rossinver, LeitrimBusinesses vary in size ranging from large, diversified Co-Ops such as Connacht Gold to a multitude of small artisan food producers such as Burren Smokehouse and Noodle House Pasta.

A vibrant organic food production sector is particularly strong in the northwest, with the National Organic Centre at Rossinver acting as a hub. Organic and artisan food producers are increasingly selling directly at the many farmers and country markets across the region.

Organic Food Basket from the Western RegionRelevant research centre

The Food Technology Centre (St Angela's)

Some companies here already

Connacht Gold, O'Hara's Bakery, Burren Smokehouse, Blue Bell Falls Goatscheese, Carraig Fada Seaweeds, Noodle House Pasta, McGeough's Butchers, Sheila's Foods, Doolittle's Sandwiches, Filligan's Jams, www.surfseeds.com

Connacht Gold Milk ProductsRepresentative Associations

Food and Drink Industry Ireland