THE recent Web Summit in the RDS in Dublin brought to Ireland by brilliant young entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave blew people out of the water.

Quality Irish food producers are likely to benefit from the horsemeat scandal as consumers begin to favour local suppliers, a study shows.

Galway and Cork were the big winners at the fifth annual Good Food Ireland Awards, with Aniar Restaurant in Galway scooping the top prize.

Dairy goods manufacturer Killowen Yoghurts has won a year of free consultation, strategy and support from business advisory firm Grant Thornton.

Food can play an invaluable role in driving Irish tourism, according to a new survey commissioned by Good Food Ireland (GFI), a non-governmental group set up to promote the industry.

THE fifth Good Food Ireland Conference and Awards will be used to promote the agri-food sector as a driver for economic recovery.

IT was 9.30pm when the last pony jumped at 95th Dungarvan Show — one of their most successful ever, according to organisers.

EAT up for Ireland, it’s the patriotic thing to do — that’s the message from Good Food Ireland as it bids to raise consumer support for home- produced food in advance of St Patrick’s Day.

LOCAL food ingredients enhance satisfaction levels among customers, delivering “empty plates” and savings on waste, according to a Good Food Ireland membership survey.

THE prestigious Limerick Lady title was won last weekend by John McLoughlin, Falduff, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, with his home-bred qualifier at Westport Show, by Grosvenor Lad out of Falduff Lady.

FOOD lovers will be tempted with special deals this week in an event celebrating great Irish food and its producers.

I’M CONTINUALLY surprised by how thrown waiting staff in many restaurants seem to be if one asks about the provenance of the food. They immediately seem to go on the defensive and it can take three or four attempts to find out the source of a piece of meat, fish or cheese.

LAST WEEK I hopped off the train in Portlaoise on my way to Cork especially to make “an appearance” at a book launch — not something I would do on a regular basis.

WEST Cork exhibitor Seamus Lehane had a highly successful visit to Limerick Show, where he took both the young horse and filly championships.

ONE of the high points of the Irish sport horse breeding year again attracted big interest at Limerick Show.

THE prestigious breeders’ championship at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show was won by a nine-year-old bay mare owned by Margaret Jeffares, Ballykelly House, Drinagh, Co Wexford.

MARGARET JEFFARES, managing director, Les Routiers Ireland has been assigned to the new Tourism Strategy Implementation Group.