10 minute read
Food & Drink
Annual Pudding Run at Bellefield
The 14th Annual Michael Foley Pudding Run took place this Christmas with a difference, as organisers Phil and Jim Kearney and Terri Foley asked people to observe Covid guidelines and either meet at Bellefield and walk or run in pods on St. Stephen’s morning, or complete the run in their own time over the festive period. And as always, this event was a success, raising over €1,000, with more money to come in as I write, a tribute to the late Michael Foley, remembered forever by his family, friends and teammates. The money raised goes to the Michael Foley CBS Bursary to be part of a fund that helps students of St. Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy, to realise their dreams. The organisers would like to express their most sincere thanks to all who took part and donated for their continued interest and generosity and hope that next year we will all be back gathered at Bellefield for a more traditional St. Stephen’s Day Pudding Run.
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– Maria Nolan
Mary and Sinead Walsh with Terri Foley, Jacqui Murphy and Maria Nolan, ready to begin the Pudding Run.
Shane Murphy doing the Pudding Run.
New members for Wexford Food Family
The Wexford Food Family is delighted to welcome two new members to its ranks – Nutorious Nutrition and Saltrock Dairy. Nutorious Nutrition is a supplier of healthy snacks and nutritious granola, based near Gorey, founded and run by owner Úna Sinnott. You will find them at the Gorey Farmers Market each Saturday morning, in amazing cafés nationwide or have its handmade items delivered to your home. Its range of food is made from 100% natural ingredients, bursting with flavour and goodness with the added accolade that two of its products were awarded a Silver and Bronze medal at this year’s Blas na hÉireann awards.
Saltrock Farm is run by the Kinsella family on Tara Hill. Their own herd of dairy cows are a familiar sight to locals and visitors alike, as they graze the fields over the sea banks of Saleen Beach.
It offers a range of whole milk with a variety of flavours. Pasteurisation occurs on the farm, bringing you fresh, local milk. It has a self-vend facility with a full list of locations and opening hours available on its social media pages. For more information on these two great local food businesses see:
https://www.facebook.com/nutoriousnutrition/
https://www.facebook.com/SaltrockDairy-105262965131996/ n
Naturally Cordial to start work on new kitchen
Naturally Cordial, the multi-award-winning cordial producer based near Enniscorthy, is starting work on a brand new kitchen and bottling/pasteurisation facility this month. This project is proceeding thanks to funding from the LEADER grant aid programme. The Naturally Cordial range is made from whole fruit to a traditional recipe, then pasteurised. Using local fruit and organic citrus fruit ensures all the cordials are 100% natural, with no artificial sweeteners, flavourings or enhancers. All that’s added is three simple ingredients – water, sugar and a small quantity of citric acid.
The award-winning range consists of thirteen flavours as well as producing a range for Dunnes Stores Simply Better brand.
Due to the upcoming construction, production of its cordials will be paused for two months.
For further information on products, delicious recipes for cocktails and mocktails and contact information check here: https://www.naturallycordial.ie n
Via Veneto’s special takeaway offer
Via Veneto in Enniscorthy is reintroducing its special takeaway offer – 2 starters, 2 main courses, 2 desserts and a bottle of house wine for only €55! This takeaway offer is available from Wednesday to Sunday by phoning 0539236929 and ordering between 7pm and 8.30pm. To see the menu: https://www.facebook.com/viavenetoitalianrestaurant/photos/a.1493985917 518329/3072077689709136/ n
Your local Slimming World Consultants in Enniscorthy Happy New Year from your local Enniscorthy consultants providing you with a huge choice of sessions throughout the week.
Tuesdays @ 6.30pm The Salt n Pepper Pot, Community Workshop Call Tony on 087 1785384 Wednesdays @ 9.30am, 11.00am, 5.30pm and 7.00pm Enniscorthy Rugby Club Call Trish on 087 3607615
Saturdays @ 9.00am and 10.30am The Salt n Pepper Pot, Community Workshop Call Tony on 087 1785384
Enniscorthy’s Country Market
Enniscorthy’s Country Market is back up and running every Friday morning in the IFA Centre, Millpark Road, run by a dedicated group of local ladies.
The advice is to get there early (from 8.30am) for the best selection and freshest home baking, breads, scones, vegetables, flowers, eggs, etc.
Right: Some of the fine fare on offer at Enniscorthy Country Market. n
Coffee time at Toffee & Thyme
Enniscorthy’s popular Toffee & Thyme restaurant may no longer be visible on Enniscorthy’s Rafter Street, but it now has an impressive presence on the Old Dublin Road, next door to the NCT Centre, with loads of free parking, and open 6 days a week from 7.30am to 5pm. Enjoy a visit there soon! n
Alba’s temporary closure
Owner-Chef Angelo Due to the current 8pm restriction, Alba Restaurant in Enniscorthy is closed temporarily until restrictions ease, hopefully later this month. Angelo, Katia and team look forward to welcoming you back then.
Alba Restaurant in Enniscorthy can be contacted on 089-2649417 www.albarestaurant.ie n
Green light for Enniscorthy Community Allotments
Enniscorthy Community Allotments committee L-R: Cllr. Aidan Browne, Eimear McCauley, Michael Devereux, Mark Cooke and Noreen Kehoe. Missing from photograph are Michelle Doyle and Anna Davis.
An agreement has been reached between Enniscorthy Municipal District and the Enniscorthy Community Allotments Group to lease two plots of land to facilitate the development of a community-led garden and allotment project for the people of Enniscorthy. Work will begin on site soon, applications for allotments are expected to open later this month and the allotments themselves will be ready this Spring. One of the plots adjoins the Enniscorthy Sports Hub at Cherry Orchard, the other is across the road from the first plot –about one hectare in total. The lease will be for ten years to three individuals on behalf of Enniscorthy Community Allotments Group. Michael Devereux has been the main driving force behind this project and Cllr Aidan Browne has also been very active in helping to progress the project. Cllr Browne says, “I have been working on this project alongside the Enniscorthy allotment committee and we are nearly at our goal that we set out to achieve, the work that has gone into this behind the scenes is phenomenal, it will be a great asset to our town for all to enjoy... the huge work and effort from Micheal Devereux and other committee members has got this project to where it is today.” The Slaney News, like many others, looks forward to seeing (and tasting!) the fruits of all this labour.
An Enniscorthy woman has joined the fight against childhood obesity in Ireland and is urging the public to join the Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Stop Targeting Kids’ drive. A growing trend in obesity levels in children, especially during Covid, has prompted 23-year-old Amy Cowan (pictured), from Enniscorthy, to join the campaign. The secondary school teacher has a special interest in childhood obesity having studied home economics at St Angela’s College in Sligo. “It is clear to me that junk food companies used the opportunity (during Covid) to keep their unhealthy products centre stage in children’s minds,” said Ms Cowan. “We need to break the junk food cycle to improve children’s health. I joined this campaign because I believe a ban on junk food marketing would be a game changer in tackling childhood obesity. “As an active campaigner, I’ve been in touch with the Advertising Standards Authority about irresponsible advertising by brands loved by young people as this marketing is continuing without penalties.” Her call comes as the Irish Heart Foundation released the results of a poll which found that almost seven in ten people believe the Government is not doing enough to confront childhood obesity in Ireland. The Ipsos MRBI research for the Irish Heart Foundation reveals 69% feel more can be done to tackle the problem. “The people of Ireland are telling the Government very clearly through our poll that they want a much bolder approach to protecting children’s health,” said the charity’s Childhood Obesity Campaign Manager, Helena O’Donnell. “Our manifesto target of halving the childhood obesity rate by 2030 is a reflection of what the public is demanding.” In its poll of 1,044 adults last month, only 20% believed the Amy Cowan
Government is doing enough on childhood obesity, with 11% saying they did not know. The majority of those who say more must be done are in the 45-54 age group (73%). The State’s own research estimates 85,000 of today’s generation of children will die prematurely due to overweight and obesity. And an ESRI study published in March 2021 – a year into the pandemic – showed 29% of 12-year-olds were eating more junk food or sweets since the outbreak.
“The current Government target of reducing childhood obesity by just half of 1% per annum up to 2025 is not ambitious enough in the face of a tenfold increase in the rate since the mid-1970s and even achieving the objective will still leave us with a crisis for our children’s future health,” said Ms O’Donnell. “In 2013, junk brand advertising to children on television was restricted because of its health impact. Meanwhile, there has been an explosion in digital marketing that’s more personalised, effective and therefore potentially even more damaging.” The Irish Heart Foundation is now urging everyone to petition their local TDs and Senators, demanding action through a pre-written letter on its website, as part of its ‘Stop Targeting Kids’ drive. “I encourage other young people to join this campaign to show public demand for increased marketing restrictions... Together we can place the spotlight back on healthy eating and protect the future of children’s health.”
A Fresh success story
L-R: Minister James Browne TD with Fresh Today Managing Director Brian McGee. Minister James Browne TD was delighted to get a recent tour of the Fresh Today premises based on the Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy. Providing food, including hot meals, to schools across Ireland, this local company was set up by an Enniscorthy family over ten years ago and is now employing almost 100 people. Its lunches help ensure schoolchildren throughout the country are well-fed and focused.
Fresh Today is ranked in the top 6% of Q marked companies in the country and is the first school lunch provider to gain ISO 22000:2015 recognition. Minister Browne was highly impressed with what he saw and added, “We always welcome announcements of new jobs from foreign companies but it’s even more important to support local jobs.” https://www.freshtoday.ie n
L-R: Minister James Browne TD tours the Fresh Today facilities escorted by Managing Director Brian McGee.
Gorey business is a cracker
Isle of Crackers, based near Gorey, has been busy expanding. It has recently finished a new labelling and staff room as well as a new, much-needed storage space. It has also increased its staff numbers which is great news. Tim Nickerson and his family have been baking a delicious range of flaxseed crackers in their small north Wexford bakery since 2014. Each heart shaped cracker is mixed, rolled, cut and packaged by hand which makes them a truly artisan product. The crackers are slow baked using delicious seeds and Irish cold pressed rapeseed oil from Co. Wicklow. Look out for Isle of Crackers on Supervalu Food Academy shelves, in small artisan stores and in many larger independent retailers. n
