This article is from page 34 of the 2007-06-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
AFTER years of careful preparation and research, the Burren Beef and Lamb Producers Group (BBLPG) and BurrenLife are now ready to take orders for Ireland’s first ever batch of conservation-grade lamb.
The lamb, which is produced and slaughtered using old-fashioned methods, offers a limited number of local restaurants and butchers, as well as members of the public, the chance to sample the flavour of true Burren lamb.
The second and most important el- ement of this lamb is that each of the 15 farmers taking part in the BBLPG
farms using methods that are fully organic and help to maintain the eco- logical integrity of the Burren.
“We are aware that there is a huge interest in the lamb from the general public, people who are cooking at home and have an interest in qual- ity food. We are very confident that there is a marker there for that,” said Ruairi O Conchuir of BurrenLife.
“We are working with an organi- cally-certified, owner-operated abat- toir in Peterswell, who is also a craft butcher. Only the very highest qual- ity of lamb is getting in there. He is hanging that in the traditional, which gets the best taste and the tenderest meat and preserves all of the nutri-
ent value.
“It is then cut in accordance with how the restaurant want it or, if it’s a member of the public, exactly in the way that they want it and it is in- dividually labeled, vacuum-packed and boxed.”
The BBLPG are now taking orders from members of the public for Bur- ren lamb with a live-weight varying from 38kg to 44 Kg, for an initial marketing period, half lambs are be- ing sold for €70 and full lambs for €125.
BurrenLife farmer and BBLPG chairperson, Mr Thomas Holmes, has welcomed the initiative by stat- ing the commitment of the group is
“to our members and stakeholders who are working to develop long- term relationships with quality-con- scious consumers and customers via farmers markets, craft butchers and quality restaurants.”
Each *Life’ farmer has signed up to a code of practice and pledge which ensures that their farms are operated to the very highest standards, both in terms of the quality of the animals produced and the environmentally friendly manner in which they are produced. Further information and order forms can be had from the Burren Producers Group, Old School House in Carron at 065 7089000 or e-mail burrenproducers @eircom.net