This article is from page 81 of the 2008-07-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 81 JPG
THE Carron based Burren Beef and Lamb Producers Group turned a year old last week and to celebrate it an- nounced two major steps forward in the progress of the organisation.
The group will this week start sell- ing meat outside Clare for the first time when it takes up a place at the Limerick Farmers Market in UL. Perhaps more importantly the group will also this week appoint a co-ord1- nator who will oversee progress into the future.
“The first year has been very suc- cessful because we have managed
to survive and keep the group mov- ing in the right direction. We are now Selling directly to customers, in some of north Clare’s best high end restaurants and in the Ballyvaughan Farmers Market. From next week on then we will also be selling in the Limerick farmers’ market in UL,” said Ruairi O Conchuir of the Burren Producers Group. “The first year has been a real struggle but it does take three years for any business, espe- cially one which is trying something a bit different, to really get it’s feet under itself. But things are improv- ing – anew co-ordinator has just been appointed and the producers group
has just bought it’s own refrigerated vehicle for transporting the meat.
“It is absolutely imperative that the project secures some rural develop- ment funding in order to keep it tick- ing over. It’s not a hand out, it’s the same funding that would be given to any project looking to start up in a new sector.”
The group produces top quality or- ganic, conservation grade beef and lamb. Conservation grade products are produced in a way which allows the natural limestone of the Burren to survive and prevents the encroach- ment of scrub.
For more information on the pro-
ducers group or to purchase conser- vation grade beef or lamb contact Cee ee lel eeF
Meanwhile, the BurrenLIFE Project and Teagasc hosted the first in a Series of farm demonstration day on the farm of Ms Philomena Hynes in Carron on Friday evening.
The demonstration was attended by local farmers, officials from national farming organisations and farm- ing experts and focused on grass- land management, enhancement of livestock management facilities, addressing water provision, the use of supplementary feed and targeted scrub removal and re-treatments.