Food fair organiser criticises lack of support

The organisers of Ireland's largest consumer food fair yesterday hit out at the lack of official support his organisation had…

The organisers of Ireland's largest consumer food fair yesterday hit out at the lack of official support his organisation had received to assist holding the event in Dublin's RDS.

John Low, director of S & L Promotions, was highly-critical of the lack of financial support from either Bord Bia, the Irish food board, or the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Mr Low was speaking at the end of the three-day event which attracted thousands of visitors to the event which was billed as Ireland's National Gourmet Food Fair.

"We received no help at all either from the food board or the Department of Agriculture, while we provided a platform for small-scale producers to show their wares directly to the public. We have been doing our bit to promote Irish food but we are not getting any help at all from official Ireland," he said.

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The event, being staged for the second year, attracted a large number of food lovers to sample a wide range of food from the 60 producers who took part.

Many of those who turned up were there to sample the wines and spirits on offer at the event.

Of particular interest, especially to the younger people at the show, was the appearance of Clodagh McKenna who was there to promote the idea of "slow food".

West Cork-born Ms McKenna is soon to become in cookery circles in Britain what Diarmuid Gavin is to British gardens. She has been chosen to front an autumn television series which will attempt to educate the British public in healthier eating habits.