Tipperary is top for quality potatoes

Tipperary has already won an all-Ireland title, but this one is for top quality potatoes, not hurling.

The triumph came at the country’s biggest one-day agricultural show which drew more than 60,000 people to Tullamore last Sunday. An entry from David Curran, Moyglass, Fethard, won the Bord Bia All Ireland quality potato championship.

The competition was designed to increase the level of awareness among growers of what constitutes a good quality potato.

It was also a family affair. Husband and wife Noel and Kathleen Higgins, of Ballydangan, Athlone, Co Westmeath, took the second and third places. Mother and son Margaret and Michael McGoldrick, of Kilcoosey, Dromahaire, Co Leitrim, were the fourth and fifth winners.

It is estimated that 9,800 hectares of potatoes are grown by 540 growers here each year.

Main varieties are rooster, accounting for 60% of production; Kerr’s pink (8%); queens (8%), golden wonder (2%); records (1%) and others (21%).

The Irish Potato Federation, which represents 75% of the potato trade in Ireland, has 12 members, who are wholesalers, importers, and exporters.