Irish rugby star and Bóthar ambassador, Rory Best today launched the charity’s latest appeal, encouraging local people to don their walking boots and trek the Sperrin Mountains to raise vital funds for families living in the developing world.

The annual walking festival, which takes place from 23rd-25th August, aims to use the donations raised in the trek to purchase livestock for communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo – helping to create a sustainable living environment for local people that could not otherwise survive.

The three day, specially designed programme caters for experienced walkers as well as beginners and day trekkers are also encouraged to attend. As well as benefitting from local guides to showcase the very best of what the Sperrins has to offer, volunteers will have the chance to socialise with friends, as well as building new friendships while walking through an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Commenting on the launch of the appeal, Bóthar NI ambassador Rory Best said: “I’d like to encourage everyone to consider signing up for the Bóthar trek. Whether you take part for one day or commit to the three day walk, it promises to be a great experience which will also drastically change the lives of families that are in most need.”

Bóthar NI Representative Aoibheann Fearon said: “We are delighted that this year’s annual trek will take place in the picturesque Sperrin Mountains. It is an exciting opportunity for people of all age groups and abilities to come together to have fun and help us to raise our target of £30,000.

“Your money will allow us to develop a livestock rehabilitation programme in Kindhu, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Historically, this area has been afflicted by a series of wars which have scarred the social fabric of many Congolese societies. Bóthar wants to help these communities by providing them with pigs, identified by the charity as a suitable livestock as well as teaching them basics of pig rearing, so they can help to lift themselves out of poverty.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about Bóthar’s Sperrins trek should contact Aoibheann Fearon on 028 9062 7308 or email aoibheann@bothar.co.uk

Why not check out the special offer at Arch House Bed and Breakfast; this lovely Bed and Breakfast is situated in Florencecourt, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Arch House Bed and Breakfast is offering 2 nights B&B with a Taste of Ulster meal and drink for £79 per person sharing as well as a third night free midweek. The restaurant menu is available on the Arch House website as stated below and if possible pre-ordering of the meal prior to arrival would be ideal.

For more information regarding this special offer, please visit or get in contact via;

Email: tullyguest60@hotmail.com
Website: www.archhouse.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArchHouseGuesthouse

The Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management is celebrating again with the news that Katie Craig, a final year student in BSc Hons Consumer Studies, was announced overall winner of the Placement Innovation Award 2012.

Katie, from Tandragee and a former student of Portadown College completed her placement with Cookstown-based Big Pot Soup Company developing a comprehensive marketing strategy for the artisan hand-made soup company and initiating the introduction of a new line of `single serve` soups.

During her placement Katie was involved in all aspects of the company from production, packaging and dispatch, to marketing and sales and new food product development.

Enthused by her experience and her well-earned award Katie reflected on the benefits of placement and in particular her time at Big Pot Soup Company: `My placement was special because as it was a small company, I was able to work on a number of projects and through this I came up with a new category range for the company and developed a marketing strategy to go with it.

I have learnt so much about the food industry and how it works on a large scale. My placement year has helped me to decide that I want to pursue a career in this industry particularly within marketing or new product development. I would recommend a placement year to every student – not only does it help you in your career but it also has many benefits for your final year of study’.

Issued by Enniskeen Country House Hotel

30th April 2013

New Mournes Cycling Food Trail on the Tourism Menu!   

Enniskeen Country House Hotel just outside Newcastle in the Mournes has created Northern Ireland’s very first food tour by bike! 

The ‘Mourne Foods Cycle Trail’ has been devised by the Enniskeen Country House hotel, in association with local food producers to showcase the wonderful artisan food in the area and offer visitors an active way to explore a food trail. The Trail offers visitors a self-guided tour by bicycle, with gentle cycling either downhill or on flat ground – electric bikes are available too, so there are definitely no excuses!. The routes are a mix of quiet rural roads, cycle lanes and smooth off road trails, and are suitable for couples and small groups of friends looking for a novel way to spend a day or half day exploring.

Eileen Jeans, Manageress at the Enniskeen Country House hotel commented, “The team here at Enniskeen Country House hotel have often talked about how  great our local food produce and landscapes are here in the Mournes and we’re delighted to be able to bring these assets together showcasing them for visitors. Our key was to collaborate with local food producers and eateries to create an inspirational day itinerary that will help attract tourists into the Mourne area – and so the ‘Mourne Foods Cycle Trail’ was born!”

Members of the Mourne Foods Cycle trail include – Abernethy Butter Company, Murlough Farm free range eggs, Mourne Honey, Dundrum Bay Mussel and Osyter fishery, Patterson’s Mourne Lamb Farm, Grahams Ice Cream, Cookie Jar Bakery, Enniskeen Country House hotel and Newcastle Bike Hire Company.

With the Mourne Mountains as its backdrop, the ‘Mourne Foods Cycle Trail’ pairs up gentle cycling, stunning scenery and simply delicious food! Visitors cycling the trail will get to visit local producers along the route and purchase some of their tasty foods as well as choose to stop off at some of the great local eateries.

The cost to take part in the trail is £28.00 per person which includes hire of a quality bike with small pannier compartment for carrying foods, trail pack, and a complimentary shuttle bus service.

Ellie Harvey from Newcastle Bike Hire added, “The Mourne Foods Cycle trail is a great way to experience our stunning Mourne landscapes and travelling by bicycle allows people to take in a lot more than they do when they travel by car. Stopping off with local food producers, hearing their stories and getting the chance to buy directly from the farmer and storing these provisions in the specially provided bike panniers all adds to the cycling experience.”

As the trail is such a unique offer which provides a good quality visitor experience, it is likely to attract visitors to the Mourne area and motivate them to stay longer.

Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Culture, Heritage & Activity Tourism Officer, Julie McLaughlin commented; ”We’re delighted to see this innovative tourism initiative being developed through the efforts of a passionate group of small private sector businesses who recognise the important role quality, authentic visitor experiences play in developing Northern Ireland’s tourism offer. The trail is a great example of an experiential opportunity for visitors; allowing people to sample a destination through its food and outdoor activity as well as meeting local people. Our research strongly supports the idea that this approach of creating unique visitor experiences not only motivates visitors to come to a destination but also makes them more likely to return again.”

The Mourne Foods Cycle Trail will be open daily from mid May 2013 and advance booking is essential.

For further information or to book call +44 (0)28 4372 3933.

Mary’s Bar in Magherafelt is celebrating after being crowned the Best Gastro Pub in Co Derry/Londonderry at the Ulster regional finals of the prestigious Irish Restaurant Awards.

Now, the bar will join other county winners to compete for All-Ireland titles, with the winners to be announced at the main awards presentation in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday 10 June.

Owned by Henry and Teresa McGlone, Mary’s Bar puts its success down to serving seasonal Irish dishes alongside fine wines, classy cocktails, local pints and great entertainment.

General manager Thomas Doherty said: “We have a great team at Mary’s and everyone works hard to ensure that our customers have a good time when they visit us.  To be recognised as the Best Gastro Pub in Derry/Londonderry is fantastic and an incredible achievement for all the staff.

“There was a lot of strong competition in this category, but we think it was the combination of fresh local produce, skill in the kitchen, menu selection for all budgets, customer care and ambience that secured us the top spot.”

The Ulster finals of the awards – which are sponsored by Chilean winery Santa Rita and LIFE magazine – were held at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast.

Over 300 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements as many well-known restaurateurs in Ulster turned out to see if they had won one of the coveted awards.

Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said: “The Irish Restaurant Awards are now in their fifth year and continue to go from strength to strength.

“Each year, the awards cast a spotlight on the brightest and best players on the Irish restaurant scene, and they are undoubtedly the awards everyone wants to win.

“This year the nominations went online for the first time and we got a spectacular response from the public. Nominations doubled and we received 10,000 votes for Ireland’s favourite restaurants, chefs, gastro pubs, hotel restaurants and customer service experience.

“We celebrate the award-winning cuisines and the great restaurateurs and chefs who are constantly bringing international recognition and accolades to the Irish restaurant scene.

“Restaurateurs are entrepreneurs, and that is reflected in the fact that the restaurant sector is the biggest employer within the hospitality industry. We provide employment to 64,000 people and the industry has annual sales in excess of €2 billion”.

Mary’s Bar is in Market Street, Magherafelt and there is plenty of parking in the town. For more information on all Mary’s activities or to book Tel: 028 79302616 or visit www.marys-bar.com.

CAPTION:

Chef, Victoria Watson – Mary’s Bar, Magherafelt accepts ‘Best Gastro Pub’ in Co Derry/Londonderry Award from Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland and Brian Fallon, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland at the Ulster regional finals of the prestigious Irish Restaurant Awards.

A big congratulations to some of our Taste of Ulster members who won awards at the recent Restaurant Association of Ireland awards ceremony held in The Merchant Hotel on 17th April 2013.

This was for the Ulster Regional Final, these winners will represent Ulster in the all Ireland Finals in The Burlington Hotel 10th June 2013;

Best Gastro Pub Tyrone The Brewers House

Best Casual Dining Antrim Mourne Seafood Bar

Best Wine Experience in Ulster Nick’s Warehouse

Best Casual Dining Dining Tyrone Deli on The Green

Best Hotel Restaurant Tyrone Tullylagan

Best Chef in Derry Ian Orr Brown’s

Best Chef in Down Joery Castel (The Boat House Restaurant)

Best Chef in Tyrone Brian Mc Conagle (The Brewer’s House)

Best Restaurant in Derry Brown’s Champagne Lounge

Best Restaurant Antrim James St South

Best Restaurant Down The Boat House Restaurant

For more information and the opportunity to view photographs from this event, please visit the Restaurant Association of Ireland website;  www.irishrestaurantawards.com/