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Best of local produce to be showcased on St Patrick’s Day

A celebration of local food heritage will form part of this year’s St Patrick’s Day festivals in Enniskillen and Omagh.

Endorsing Tourism NI’s Year of Food and Drink 2016, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has organised a programme of food related activity to whet the appetite of those attending St Patrick’s Day celebrations in either town on March 17.

In Enniskillen, a Food Fayre will take place in The Bridge Centre, Enniskillen, from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm with pedestrian access via East Bridge Street.

Local food fayre will be available to taste and purchase on the day from local food producers including Baked in Belfast, Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Cherry Tree Home Bakery, Erin Grove Preserves, Long Lane Pantry, Lough Erne Cakes and Tickety-Moo ice cream.

In Omagh, a Food and Craft Market will take place at the Strule Arts Centre from 12 noon to 5.00 pm. Local artisan food and craft produce will be on offer from local suppliers including Baked in Belfast, Orchard Acre Farm, Corran Crafts, Kennedy Bacon, Krafts and Kards, Myrtle Dennis with Felt Crafts, Oona Candles, Poker Tree Brewery, Sperrin Sparkles, and The Quilling Beee.

The Silverbrich Hotel’s resident chef, Declan O’Donaghue, will also be cooking up a storm at the Strule Arts Centre with cookery demonstrations taking place throughout the afternoon. There will also be music and entertainment provided by Comhaltas groups from Dromore and Trillick, as well as singing in Irish and set and séan-nós dancing.

The food related theme will continue at the OASIS Plaza where there will be a selection of food vendors including Taco Loco an the Strule Café, under the cover of a marquee cooking food to order using fresh local produce from 12 noon. There will also be a programme of family entertainment and music, song and dance from Omagh Community Youth Choir, traditional folk band “Blackthorn” and dancing from Blue Thistle Highland Dancers and Irish Dancers.

Admission to St Patrick’s Day activities in the Bridge Centre, Enniskillen and the Strule Arts Centre and the OASIS Plaza in Omagh, is free of charge.

A limited number of spaces for food producers at the Food Fayres in Enniskillen and Omagh are still available. For further information please contact Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on 0300 303 1777, extension 20408.

The celebration of local food is just one part of a packed programme of St Patrick’s Day activities taking place in Enniskillen and Omagh on March 17.

For further information on St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Enniskillen visit the Project St Patrick website at www.projectstpatrick.com

For further information on St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Omagh visit the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council website at www.fermanaghomagh.com or telephone the Council Events Officer on 0300 303 1777.