Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) has unveiled a unique programme of food and drink experiences, planned to run from June to December 2019.

With several exciting events, festivals and tasting experiences scheduled to take place across Hillsborough, Moira, Lisburn and Dundonald, food lovers from across Northern Ireland and those travelling from further afield have plenty to look forward to over the coming months.

The 2019 LCCC Food and Drink Programme was officially launched at The StillHouse of Moira and the line-up includes a number of larger scale events happening across the Council area including the popular Hillsborough Farmers’ Markets and Moira’s Speciality Food Fair, which this year is spreading its wings and running for 2 days (17th and 18th August) as part of a newly created Moira Festival.

There will be a series of ticketed intimate events including a ‘Global Cuisine’ themed series of cookery classes, a ‘Winter Drinks Masterclass’ and a ‘Long Table Dining’ experience, hosted over the coming months by chefs, producers and hospitality providers from within the Lisburn Castlereagh area.

Commenting on the exciting Food & Drink Programme, newly elected Chairman of the council’s Development Committee, Alderman Allan Ewart MBE, said,

“We are delighted to be able to coincide the launch our 2019 Food & Drink Programme at the start of the summer season of food markets and festivals. This year we have introduced several smaller, more intimate events and masterclasses across the council area that will give local talented traders the opportunity to showcase their produce. I would encourage you get to your tickets for the ‘meet the maker’ events that tickle your taste buds.

“The Moira Festival will start on Thursday 15th August with a programme that includes a Meet the Producer themed supper in Wine and Brine, designed and cooked by Chef Chris McGowan; a comedy evening in the Distillery at The StillHouse; and a Family Fun and Music Street Party in Moira on Friday 16th August.”

Alderman Ewart added: “The council is delighted that the ever-popular Hillsborough Farmers’ and Christmas Markets, and the Speciality Food Fair will return once again to Dark Walk at Hillsborough Fort and Moira Demesne. It is also excited to be hosting two new food events this autumn: ‘Festival of Food’ in Lisburn and ‘Taste the Harvest’ in Dundonald. Over the coming months we look forward to seeing how our Food & Drink Programme rolls out. We would encourage all families, friends and food enthusiasts from across the country to attend and get a real taste of what Lisburn Castlereagh has to offer.”

Following the official launch of the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Food and Drink Programme, the second Hillsborough Farmers’ Market of the season will take place on Saturday 29th June at the Dark Walk, Hillsborough Fort. With up to 40 stalls, visitors can once again expect a range of seasonal produce with additional offerings including horticulture and handmade organic skincare and crafts. Marketgoers will experience a delicious array of fresh, artisan foods and home-grown favourites from traders such as Indie Fude, Barn and Bread, Castlescreen Farm, among others.

NOW OPEN

Tourism NI’s Taste the Island Tourism Events Scheme for 2019 is now open for applications and will close on 8 July 2019 at 12 noon. Event organisers wishing to apply to the Scheme are encouraged to do so as early as possible to ensure the deadline is not missed. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.

It is advised that all applicants refer to Guidelines for Applicants before starting their application.

Apply now at tourismni.com/events.

To be eligible to apply to the Taste the Island Tourism Events Scheme 2019 events must satisfy the below parameters:

• Total visitor numbers greater than 1,000
• Events must have an overall minimum income of £30,000 through ticket sales, private sponsorship, other public sector, merchandise etc (prior to receiving support from Tourism NI)
• Events must have an overall minimum expenditure of £30,000 (prior to receiving support from Tourism NI)
• Demonstrate how the event will showcase the authentic Northern Ireland food and/or drink (new or uplift of existing element/s)
• Demonstrate how the event will support, promote and celebrate Taste the Island initiative
• Sponsorship support available £3,000 (inclusive of VAT) –  £10,000 (inclusive of VAT)
• In-kind support not included in the budget

If you have any queries, please contact Tourism NI Events Team on eventsunit@tourismni.com or call 028 90441656.

Get set for a scrumptious summer as a transformed Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, County Down, invites visitors to its first ever food festival, hosted in partnership with BBC Good Food and supported by Tourism Northern Ireland.

 

Set in 100 acres of stunning Castle grounds from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July, visitors can enjoy a majestic day out at the Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Food Festival. Grab a bite to eat from our amazing selection of street food, savour a drink from one of the pop-up bars or choose tasty treats to take home.

 

Visit the Discover Northern Ireland Tasting Theatre hosted by leading Northern Ireland chef Paula McIntyre and explore the array of artisan produce, street food and pop-up bars with the stunning Castle as a backdrop.

 

Enjoy live cookery demonstrations, with top culinary tips from local chefs, including Danni Barry of Balloo House, James Devine from Yellow Door and Paul Cunningham from Brunel’s. International chefs will also be attending, including Nadiya Hussain, Dr Rupy Aujla and Chris Bavin. There’ll also be music, face painting and kids’ entertainment on the bandstand, adding to the family festival atmosphere.

 

Laura McCorry, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, said, “We are delighted to be hosting these predominantly local food and drink producers at the Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Food Festival for the first time this year. The newly transformed Castle and gardens provide the perfect weekend setting for a foodie extravaganza for all the family to enjoy.

 

“Along with street food and artisan producers to whet the appetite, visitors will also be able to sample the fresh local produce of the Castle gardens in the newly opened café. Visitors can also make a day of it by exploring the Castle’s history, brought to life on guided tours led by the Castle’s team of expert explainers. With so much on offer throughout the weekend there is truly something for everyone.”

 

Adult festival tickets including access to the gardens and a 45-minute guided tour of the Hillsborough Castle state rooms start at £17.50, while adult festival tickets with gardens only access start at £13.90. Free for Historic Royal Palaces members. Family ticket options are also available. People are advised to book early as tickets are selling fast.

 

To book tickets and for more information on Hillsborough Castle and Gardens,visit:  http://hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle

 

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens has been completely transformed by independent charity Historic Royal Palaces after five years and a £24 million investment – supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous donors. Greeting visitors upon arrival is a new visitor centre complete with café and shop. Meanwhile new access and learning facilities will host schools and community programmes reaching out to the widest possible audience.

Food NI member company Castlescreen Farm has opened a new farm shop which will feature a wide range of local products as well as its own successful Dexter beef and other meats.

The farm business is run by Damian Tumelty and partner Jackie Gibson and has successful track record in supplying Dexter beef through farmers’ markets, high-end restaurants and also retailers such as Avoca in Belfast. It also has developed ham products from its own pigs. Mr Tumelty, in addition, has his own butchery operation on the family farm.

“We set up the farm shop to enable more people to purchase our meats especially Dexter beef such as sirloins, fillets, burgers and sausages from our own grass-fed herd. Shoppers will now be able to call at the farm to buy our meats.

“In addition to our own meats, we’ll have chicken, lamb, free-range eggs and a range of other products from other local artisan producers. I am keen to offer these smaller businesses opportunities to access shoppers and grow sales in this part of Co Down,” he adds.

The company has just launched a unique Dexter beef salami developed in collaboration with successful cured meats specialist Corndale Farm in Limavady. There’s also heather honey from the farm’s own hives.

Damian and Jackie are now well-known at markets across Northern Ireland especially the immensely popular Inns at Saintfield Road and events in Downpatrick, Portaferry and Newcastle.

“The markets,” continues Damian, “are a great way to talk to shoppers about the distinctive characteristics and delicious taste of Dexter beef,” he adds.

Damian is among a small group of Dexter breeders in Northern Ireland and has won a cluster of prestigious awards for the cattle especially “Charlie’ a breed champion at Balmoral.

He opted to rear Dexter cattle because they are much smaller than traditional beef cows. “They may be small cows but the meat they produce is naturally marbled with fat, giving it a distinct succulence and a much fuller flavour,” he explains.

“We took the decision to change our farming approach and to get away from big animals,” he says. “Research shows that Dexter meat is one the best you can eat as it is naturally marbled which comes from grass feeding.” This is why he describes the business as specialising in “wee cows, big beef’.

Dexters are apparently gaining in popularity due to their size and quality of meat. The animals are small and very robust, able to survive outdoors in conditions in winter that would be impossible for bigger breeds of cows, he adds.

The flavour is strongly influenced by the diet the cattle enjoy. “It’s a very healthy diet of exclusively grass or silage. Our beef is then dry-aged for up to 35 days for an intense, real beefy flavour,” Damian says. “The beef is then prepared on-site by us.”

He currently rears a herd of around 100 beef and breeding cattle on the sprawling farm which has been in the Tumelty family for over 40 years.

“We can sell everything we currently produce and people can now call at our farm shop to buy our range of meat,” he adds.