Ballynacargy Country Market

The market made a brief appearence on Waterways on Sunday evening 30/10/2011 The programme can be seen for another fortnight on the RTE player.

NDC Women and Agriculture Conference

Two of our members, Josephine Lynch from Portumna and Fiona McCorry from Portlaoise represented Country Markets at the recent conference held in Kilkenny. It was attended by at least 700 women. Speakers included Aidan Cotter Bord Bia, Simon Coveney Minister of Agriculture, Margaret Jeffares Good Food Ireland and Valerie Kingston, dairy farmer and founder of Glenilen Foods in Dunmanway.
 

One of the topics covered was farming, food and tourism with Margaret Jeffares, whom I have heard speak previously. She is a great advocate of Food Trails and I feel that it is an area we could get involved in. Thomastown Country Market took part in such a trail at the recent Savour Kilkenny event when a bus tour stopped off at participating venues around the county.

Country Markets flyers were left on every seat, the opportunity to spread the word was too good to miss.

Country Markets feature in Easy Food

Three of our markets will be in the December issue of Easy Food magazine. Achill, Fethard-on-Sea and Kilternan branch markets will be part of a half page feature giving details of their Christmas markets and the wonderful range of crafts and food available.

Proposal for Funding

Over the last three weeks a working group from the Board of Management have been drafting a proposal for funding for 2012. It is intended to submit this proposal to Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture to assist us in promotion and marketing.

The draft is included for final discussion on the agenda at the next management meeting on 07/11/2011.

Our New Producer Profile

Don't forget to check out the latest addition to our website countrymarkets.ie. We now have a producer profile spot, which I’m sure will generate interest not just with visitors to the site, but with members also. For anyone who would like to contribute, please send your profile to me at margaret@kjsblues.com. The objective of the profile is to let people know we are a diverse group with varied talents, from different walks of life, sharing a belief in localised self help and a desire to enrich our communities socially and economically.

Your profile should be 250-300 words, about
(a) who you are and perhaps your family
(b) a little background on how you started producing for Country Markets
(c) if your skill was developed on the family farm/business or you had specific training
(d) any awards/prizes you have won
(e) some photographs of yourself, your produce, your awards.

Each of us contributes to the great diversity in our markets, and our stories are of interest to others. After all people want to know about people. Who knows your story might inspire someone to make something more of their skill, or even become a member!

New Market Opens

Our most recent market opened in Upper Glanmire on Friday last 30/09/2011 and they had a great first day. I wish them every success as they start out.

Ballynacargy Country Market

Ballynacargy Country Market will feature on Waterways (RTE1, Sunday evenings) Dick Warner’s series about his journey along the restored Royal Canal aboard a 19th- century barge, last used on the route in 1923. Ballynacargy in Co Westmeath is near the canal . The first of six episodes was shown last Sunday evening 02/10/2011 at 8.30pm so keep an eye out for Ballinacargy Country Markets.