Building a future - Eat for Ireland

IRELAND’S restaurants employ more than 64,000 people and have a turnover of over €2 billion each year.

In these straitened times these are significant figures. The sector also sustains a great number of jobs in food production, transport and ancillary services.

If a town is lucky enough to have an award-winning restaurant, especially one with coveted international awards, it has a good source of employment and training for anyone aspiring to follow Paul Flynn or Denis Cotter to the food premiership.

Like every other business, restaurants are under pressure and many are reacting in ways they hope will protect their businesses. Some are offering novel packages, others are reviewing pricing and menus. Earlier recessions saw the success of “buy Irish” campaigns and it may be time for another — an eat Irish campaign to secure the restaurants that so enrich this country.