RTÉ One’s ‘The Taste of Success’ is back and we are now looking for YOUR amazing food product ideas. So, if you fancy seeing YOUR product on supermarket shelves nationwide – we want you!
The search is on for the next winner of ‘The Taste of Success’. This person will walk away with a guaranteed contract with Lidl Ireland, which will see their product on shelves in 140 supermarkets nationwide.
This competition is open to everyone who has an original food product idea. So it might be your granny’s delicious bread recipe, a tasty new jam or sauce combination you’ve concocted or your special occasion desert. You might have dreamed up an innovative new health food product or it could even be your own home brew!
Padraig McCarthy, winner of the first season of ‘The Taste Of Success’ with a slow braised beef short rib in a pancetta and cider sauce says:.
“To anyone who is thinking of applying, you have to be passionate about your food, have confidence in your product and the courage of conviction and just do it, just enter. If you are not in you can’t win. It’s a massive opportunity and it’s defiantly changed my life for the better and I would encourage anyone to go and do it”.
Colm Crowley, Head of Production, RTÉ Cork says:

“RTÉ were delighted with the reaction that Irish viewers had to the first series of the Taste of Success with an average of over 340,000 people tuning in each week. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity for someone to make their career in food production a reality and potentially create new jobs.”

Aoife Clarke, Head of Communications from Lidl Ireland says,
“Lidl are delighted to be involved in Season Two of the “Taste of Success” with RTE”. Last year we uncovered a gem of a product with Padraig’s slow cooked beef ribs which became an immediate hit with the Irish public. Ireland has such a rich food culture and an amazing level of innovation so we are really excited to get on the road again and see what season two brings.”

For an application form please go to www.rte.ie/thetasteofsuccess
Closing date for applications is Thursday 7th MAY 2015 @ 5pm.
For on-line publications: Check out Padraig’s call to arms for series two – https://youtu.be/UU_BnNKvA-c

The Courtyard Cottages
2014 saw phase 1 of the Estate’s refurbishment: 5 of the 8 Courtyard Cottages were completed. These have been fully refurbished with new interiors and furnishings.

The beginning of 2015 saw phase 2 of the refurbishment: 3 more Cottages including our Walled Garden Cottage with 1 more to go.

All have fully functional and well equipped kitchens, flat screen TV’s, and there is free Wi Fi in every Cottage. All to be fully complete by the end of July 2015.
The Hamilton Wing of Belle Isle Castle
Our 17th Century Belle Isle Castle currently sleeps up to 16 people in 6 ensuite double bedrooms, and 2 further bedrooms each with dedicated bathrooms. All bedrooms are unique in their own right, so each guest can experience something exclusive, from four-poster beds and exposed oak beams, to individually hand painted tiles and original paintings.

There is a warm and elegant family Drawing Room with an open fire place, and comfortable accommodation for everyone staying in the Castle. A great place to relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company, with board games and maybe a glass of wine. With the option of the Grand Hall or the Long Gallery to dine in, take your pick each night! Whether you chose to cater for yourself or opt for us to provide the in-house catering during your stay, the Castle has a fully equipped and functional kitchen with a large AGA to warm your fingers and toes after a long walk!

BELLE ISLE CASTLE RENOVATIONS
AVAILABLE FOR EXCLUSIVE HIRE FROM 1st SEPTEMBER 2015!

Belle Isle Castle is currently undergoing an extensive renovation project which will create an additional 5 high quality ensuite bedrooms and ground floor accommodation with spectacular views over Upper Lough Erne. Upon completion, Belle Isle Castle will be able to accommodate groups of up to a maximum of 26 people, with a further two options offering accommodation for groups of up to 10 or 16 people.
So far, 3 out of the 5 bedrooms in the Castle have been completed; we are absolutely delighted with how they have turned out! When completed, Belle Isle Castle will offer some of the best exclusive hire accommodation in Ireland. Take a peek and get an idea of what the rest will look like.
How you can use the Castle to suit you:
• Weddings
• Family Get-togethers
• House Parties
• Special Occasions – Anniversaries, Christenings, Big Birthdays.
• Corporate Retreat & Team Building
• Film Location

~ Shortcross celebrates San Francisco World Spirits Competition win & success of first year

with release of 365 limited edition gold waxed first anniversary bottles ~

 

There are sure to be high spirits this May, as Ireland’s international award-winning gin, Shortcross celebrate­s its first anniversary.

Shortcross Gin is the first spirit to be launched by Rademon Estate Distillery – the North’s first and only craft distillery. Founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong, Rademon Estate Distillery is located at the couple’s historic family estate just outside Downpatrick, Co. Down. The first batch of their super premium craft Gin, Shortcross was released in May 2014 to great critical acclaim and the word is spreading fast.

 

In just a year since its launch at the Rademon Estate Distillery, Shortcross has quickly become the choice of discerning gin drinkers at home and abroad. From Belfast to Dublin, London to Edinburgh and Paris to San Francisco, Shortcross is causing a stir in the global craft gin market.

In April, the award-winning Co. Down gin added to its already impressive list of accolades, winning a Silver Medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2015.

Shortcross impressed the judges –amongst the world’s leading spirits experts – to beat off stiff competition from gin brands across the world to clinch the coveted silver medal, which was no mean feat, with record-breaking numbers of submissions received in the gin category for 2015.

To celebrate the brand’s recent success, and to mark its first year, Rademon Estate Distillery will launch a special limited edition anniversary batch on 4^th May. Each of the 365 bottles – one for each day of its first year – will be individually signed, labelled, numbered and sealed with a striking gold wax.

Rademon Estate Distillery is now exporting Shortcross Gin to four countries, including, France, GB and Holland, with plans to expand its export distribution network and bring Shortcross to more countries in the coming year.

Commenting on the success of Shortcross in its first year, Founder and Head Distiller, David Boyd-Armstrong said:  “Over the last year, we have worked hard to grow and establish Shortcross Gin. The small batch philosophy behind Shortcross is at the heart of everything we do. From handpicking, foraging and sourcing the botanicals, drawing our own fresh waters to managing the delicate distillation process in our custom copper still and bottling and labelling each bottle by hand, we are driven by a passion to create the finest gin in Ireland.”

 

A vibrant gin with an exceptionally long and smooth finish, Shortcross is classic in style with a unique twist. Fresh apples, elderberries, elderflower and Irish clover are foraged and handpicked within the estate grounds and distilled with other botanicals including juniper, coriander, orange peel, lemon peel and cassia to create an uplifting bouquet of wild berries and summer meadows.

 

Over the past year, bartenders and mixologists across Ireland and the UK have championed Shortcross, creating their own unique Shortcross serves. From the classic Shortcross G&T, served over ice with premium tonic and a spiral of orange peel to innovative new creations using grapefruit and fresh basil, there have been countless great Shortcross drinks served up and down the country and further afield.

 

This month, the distillery will invite bartenders to showcase their Shortcross Signature Serves in a special competition. Judges including Oliver Ward from Gin Foundry and Caroline Wilson, Northern Ireland’s Local Food Hero 2014 and founder of Belfast Food Tours, will be tasked with deciding the top three Shortcross Signature Serves.

 

Commenting on the competition, Fiona Boyd-Armstrong, Founder and Managing Director of Rademon Estate Distillery, said:

 

“We are so proud of and passionate about Shortcross Gin and we have been immensely touched by the overwhelmingly positive reception from people locally, nationally and internationally in our first year. It’s wonderful that so many people share our love for the product- it just seems to have struck a chord with people and we’re so proud to see our vision for Shortcross Gin come to life.

 

“Bartenders, hoteliers and restaurateurs have been a huge support to us and we are greatly looking forward to seeing the industry showcase their expertise in creating their own Shortcross Signature Serve. We’re also in the process of expanding our distribution and export networks to bring Shortcross Gin to more people, right across the world.”

Shortcross Gin is stocked by leading high-end hotels, restaurants and bars across Ireland including Carton House, Co. Kildare, Castle Leslie, Co. Monaghan, Mourne Seafood, Dublin, The Merchant Hotel, James Street South and Ox in Belfast, Balloo House, Co. Down, Newforge House, Co. Armagh and the Bushmills Inn, Co. Antrim.

Shortcross Gin has an RRP of €50 and is available to buy online across Ireland at jnwine.com and Celtic Whiskey Shop

For further information and to find a stockist near you, including where you can find one of the 365 limited edition anniversary bottles, visit www.Shortcrossgin.com

Share your Shortcross stories on twitter @ShortcrossGin and Facebook, facebook.com/Shortcrossgin

FIRST WORLD WAR, SPECTACULAR SUMMER FETE
This will take place on Saturday 6 June from 10.30am to 5.30pm
Join the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn to raise funds for the Woodland Trust’s Centenary Woods project.
The Woodland Trust at Baronscourt: Adults £5 Children £2.50
Fun-filled family activities include a craft village, antiques fair and roadshow, tours of Baronscourt, a fishing competition,helicopter flights, vintage vehicles display and much more!

Please note, some activities will incur an additional charge.
Follow signs for the Baronscourt Estate from Newtownstewart.
Parking is available on site. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
T: 028 9127 5787 E: wtni@woodlandtrust.org.uk W: woodlandtrust.org.uk/events

Discover Armagh’s rich apple-growing heritage with fun, food and frolics on Monday 4th May.

Fun, food and plenty of frolics are fully guaranteed on Monday May 4th when Armagh officially marks the start of a busy summer festival season with the return of this year’s Apple Blossom Fair.

Held at the beautiful Loughgall Country Park on the first May bank holiday Monday, the annual Apple Blossom Fair brings together a huge range of exciting family-friendly activities and an unrivalled variety of stalls featuring some of the finest local artists and artisanal producers – all of which have joined together to celebrate Armagh’s rich apple-growing heritage in a fun and exciting way.

For the first time this year, visitors from Belfast can now travel directly to the event as part of a special return shuttle bus service which departs from the city to Loughall Country Park on Monday at 10am and departing at 6pm. Tickets cost only £15 pounds return and includes entry to the spectacular Apple Blossom Fair.

Tickets for the special shuttle bus return are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre at Donegall Square, at the Visit Belfast website www.visit-belfast.com or at www.armagh.co.uk.

More details are also available by contacting the Belfast Welcome Centre directly at 028 9024 6609.

Famous for its ‘Orchard County’ status, Armagh has long been recognised for growing some of the finest apples in the world, and the annual Apple Blossom Fair is specially-designed to celebrate that tremendous success while showcasing all the top quality of local food and produce available to locals and visitors alike.

There are plenty of activities for children too with traditional country games, a mad-hatters picnic, children’s musical entertainment and much, much more.

There will also be the choice of two specially-designed tours available – the first at Ardress House, a stunning National Trust property set in the heart of an orchard, where visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the farmhouse and savour some home-made apple tart, and the second, at the Armagh Apple Farm owned by Armagh Cider Company.

As part of the fair, Armagh’s orchards will be brought to life with special ‘tasting & pressing tours’, which will combine the unique stores of the local industry and the chance for everyone to sample the produce and get directly involved.

Meanwhile, the award-winning Armagh Cider Company will delight everyone with an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse into what goes on at a real working apple orchard, before offering visitors the chance to have a go at pressing their own apple juice and sampling the ciders and juices they make.

And, if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, there will also be a traditional afternoon tea, an apple tart competition and a barbeque – just in time for everyone to sit back, relax and enjoy the live musical entertainment on offer.

Lord Mayor, Darryn Causby, said:

“The annual Apple Blossom Fair is an integral part of Armagh’s bank holiday and summertime fun, and, after last year’s tremendous success, I’m thrilled that the event will be even bigger in 2015, with a fantastic and exciting mix of live entertainment, food, tours and demonstrations planned to ensure that everyone has a great day out.”

The Apple Blossom Fair starts at 10:30am on Monday 4th May and runs until 6:00pm. Admission is only £4 per person – and under 4’s are free. Apple Pressing and Tasting Tours are accessible for an additional fee.