'No chicken nuggets': Cork community group serves 850,000 nutritious meals a year
Patrons in the cafe during lunchtime at IRD Duhallow Community Food Services at James O'Keeffe Institute, Newmarket, Co Cork. Picture; Larry Cummins
It began in the mid-1990s, tucked away in the small village of Boherbue, supplying meals on wheels to eight elderly and isolated people scattered across the Northwest Cork region.
Now, three decades later, that figure has grown to an astonishing 850,000 meals per year — with IRD Duhallow’s Community Food Services feeding everyone from hungry schoolkids to elderly residents, plus a housing a thriving bakery and ‘community restaurant’.
“Here, senior citizens can enjoy discounted meals and much needed social interaction, especially for those who prefer to dine out rather than receive home deliveries,” said Linda O’Connor, who manages IRD’s food supply services, with its headquarters at James O’Keefe Centre in Newmarket.
The amount of food produced in the Newmarket kitchen is staggering. At present, IRD Duhallow’s Community Food Services section provides:
- 41,600 meals on wheels every year, delivered to the homes of elderly people;
- More than 183,000 meals to secondary school students;
- 43,200 meals served at crèche facilities;
- 500,505 meals prepared for primary school students;
- 24,440 meals are served in the on-site community restaurant at the IRD’s headquarters;
- And a further 52,000 meals are supplied by the organisation, again often at a discounted rate, for community events and funerals.
The success of Duhallow IRD (Integrated Regional Development), which is also a registered charity, has now seen it shortlisted for a National Lottery Good Cause Award, but this is not an organisation that is content to rest on its laurels.
With demand for hot meals from schools continuing to grow, and an aging population fuelling the need for its meals on wheels service, the time has come for Duhallow IRD to extend its already extensive kitchen facilities.
According to Ms O’Connor, ever growing demand has resulted in a waiting list for primary school meals, highlighting the urgent need for expansion of its operations.
“Many children and vulnerable individuals across the region still lack consistent access to healthy, nutritious food, which is an essential service that Duhallow Community Food Services is committed to providing,” she said.
In the years ahead, she said the need for services like those offered by Duhallow Community Food Services (DCFS) will only grow.
Ireland’s over-65 population is expected to rise from 15% this year to 18% by 2030, reaching as high as 30% by the 2050s.
“This demographic shift will drive increasing demand for elderly care, nutritional support, and community-based services. These are areas in which DCFS already demonstrates strong impact,” said Ms O’Connor.
To maintain its high standards and ensure continued compliance with environmental health officer regulations, DCFS is planning a significant expansion of its kitchens, food preparation and packing premises in Newmarket.
Ms O’Connor says this development will increase the organisation’s capacity to deliver more meals and enhance its range of services to better meet evolving community needs.
The expansion will enable DCFS to sustain its current operations while broadening its reach to serve even more rural and vulnerable populations. Currently it supplies older people and students across a very wide area. While the bulk are in North Cork these services also cover Mid-Cork and parts of Co Kerry.
Ms O’Connor said this “strategic [expansion] move reaffirms DCFS’s commitment to combating food insecurity and promoting rural wellbeing and thus ensuring no one in the community is left behind”.
To subsidise their meals on wheels service and keep dinner prices as low as possible, they have expanded their operations to include outside catering and a bakery, specialising in celebration cakes and homemade bakes.
“We also run canteen services in two local secondary schools, providing to over 1,000 students each day, as well as supplying two local creches with nutritious food options for young children,” Ms O’Connor said.
When the Government launched the hot school meals programme, several local primary schools approached DCFS to see if it could supply their catering needs, said Ms O’Connor.
“Many had been offered reheated, processed meals from larger catering companies, but they wanted better,” she said. “As a local social enterprise organisation, we felt a responsibility to step in and provide fresh, healthy, and locally prepared meals for our children.”
DCFS now provides over 2,500 hot lunches every day to primary school students in its catchment areas.
In total, 72 people are involved in making and delivering the meals, including chefs, bakers, catering assistants and drivers.
Their team of chefs starts work each day at 4am cooking entirely from scratch using fresh ingredients, with no additives or preservatives.
Meals are delivered hot to schools, where students can choose from eight different menu options each day — a level of variety which can’t be by matched by larger commercial providers, said Ms O’Connor.
“Our meals are developed with children in mind, offering balance, flavour, and even ‘hidden vegetables’ for picky eaters,” she said. “We cater for all dietary needs, allergies, and preferences, ensuring every child receives a meal they can enjoy. We believe that every child deserves access to a hot, healthy meal, especially in rural areas where such services can be limited. Good nutrition plays a vital role in learning, focus, and overall wellbeing.”
It’s a win-win situation on the employment front as well providing valuable full-time jobs in what is an EU-designated disadvantaged region.
In addition, the operation provides valuable work placements through CE, RSS, and TUS schemes for young people wanting to progress up the jobs’ ladder and for those who want to re-enter the workforce after a period of absence, for one reason or another.
“These programmes allow participants to gain skills, experience, and confidence as they enter or re-enter the workforce, which further strengthens the fabric of our community,” Ms O’Connor said. “We are proud to be more than just a food service. We are a community lifeline, nourishing the people of Duhallow with care, compassion, and connection every day of the week.”
She said all involved in the service are “very proud” to have been selected as one of the finalists in the National Lottery Good Cause Awards.
The awards recognise organisations across the country that have made a significant impact through projects funded by the National Lottery.
“We are very honoured by this, and it is a tremendous acknowledgment of the dedication and hard work of our entire team at Duhallow Food Services,” said Ms O’Connor.
The awards celebrate innovation, compassion, and the positive impact of community-led initiatives and the national winners are to be announced on October 18.
• To learn more, visit DuhallowFoodServices.ie
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
