News & Upcoming Events

We have a large archive of events which we hold/attend regularly as part of our on going promotion of the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative. To view these events please select a year:

2007  2006   2005    2004    2003    2002    2001    2000    1999    1998

GUIDED FUCHSIA FOOD TOUR ON MIZEN PENINSULA

Gwen LasserreBill HoganGiana Ferguson

Run in parallel with The Turas (see below) on June 17th, this tour offers a journey through West Cork's food culture, visiting a selection of local artisan food producers. The bus leaves Schull Sailing Centre at 1pm sharp and returns beofre 5pm. Tickets are €15 per person. As places are limited it is essential to book in advance. For further information and booking please contact Jean (086/6682672) or Kevin (086/2672288). The tour will include a visit to Gwen Lasserre's choclaterie, Gubbeen Smokehouse and Cheese Dairy and the Mizen Visitor Centre where you will meet Bill Hogan of West Cork Natural Cheese and sample some local mussels.


EXTREME SPORTS EVENT COMES TO THE SOUTH WEST


650 Kms, 160 athletes, 10 disciplines, 7 days, 6 festivals, 5 peninsulas …… one journey

The South West will host a 6 day World Series Adventure race (The Turas) from 15th to 21st June. This is an expedition-style race, where athletes compete non-stop day and night for over 90 hours. The 10 disciplines include biking, horse riding, navigation via megalithic monuments, rafting, kayaking, running, rope course, etc. The competitors are allowed no outside assistance and access food only at points along the route or where provided by the organisers. The highlight of the race is the longest zipline ever in adventure racing, spanning a glaciated valley in the McGillycuddy Reeks area.

The race starts in the Dingle Peninsula and goes on to Schull. From here, athletes embark on a journey winding through the mountains and waters of the Mizen, Sheeps Head and Beara and Iveragh Penninsula.

It is a community event also with a number of festivals in various locations. In West Cork, Schull will be providing an evening of music and food on the pier and Kilcrohane will do something similar with live traditional music, a seafood barbeque and Fuchsia Branded local food produce tastings.

There will be a lot of media coverage coming up to and during the event, culminating in a DVD which will showcase the spectacular scenery and landscape of the region. This will be used after the event for further promotions.

For further information on the event, please check out www.theturas.com


A Taste of West Cork at a Taste of Edinburgh Trade Show

Visitors to the Taste of Edinburgh Show which took place between May 29th and June 1st, had an opportunity to enjoy West Cork farmhouse cheeses, biscuits, chutneys and yogurts. The tasting promotions were conducted by Failte Ireland whose stand had a food/holiday theme, with Irish musicians playing the show to accompany the food/drink sampling.


Picture from Meitheal, The Irish Tourism Trade Fair 2008, held in Citywest Hotel, Dublin on 7th and 8th of May. Included in Failte Ireland South West Stand are me, Bernie Carroll, Ballyhoura Country, Marie Keane, Failte Ireland and John O’Connor, Ballybunion.


CHAMPIONS IN DEFENCE OF FOOD

Congratulations to Bill Hogan and Sean Ferry of West Cork Natural Cheese Company in Schull on being presented with the Observer Food Monthly annual Judges Award in March for Outstanding Achievement. The judges made to the award to recognize the invaluable service that Mr Hogan and Mr Ferry have given in protecting our food culture and heritage - for the last 6 years they have been embroiled in a legal dispute with the Department of Agriculture at the core of which is their fight to preserve raw milk cheese making in Ireland. Their story was excellently presented in last months Observer Food Monthly - follow this link to read the article.


Travel Destinations based in the U.K. is bringing two groups of classic cars to Kinsale in May and June this year. Each group will contain around 60 cars (120 people). They will be visiting West Cork, heading down to the Mizen Head. Travel Desinations is putting together a "Travel Pack" for each car, to include information about their destination and places to visit. This will be sent to them with their tickets in April. Fuchsia Brands has provided them with our general West Cork brochure and other useful information for the trip.

 


IRISH FRESH FOOD MAP

Paul O'Mahoney from siopaeile has just recently created an interactive google map for quality, fresh food in Ireland. The map will include farmers markets, artisan food retailers and individual farmers who sell directly to the consumer. Let me know, if I should add to that list.
The idea is that anybody can see at a glance, who is providing fresh food in their immediate vicinity and when they are open for business.

This is an open collaborative map, which means that anybody can add a location to the map and there's even a demonstration video to show you how.

 



TASTE OF CORK

sponsored by Oceânico Group

Taste Festivals Ireland will host “Taste of Cork “at the Cork City Gaol from the 27th-29th of June 2008. This is the first time that the event will be staged in Cork, and up to 15,000 food lovers will converge on the venue over the two days. Cork is a great foodie place and given the reputation of its fine restaurants and its illustrious food producers the event promises to be a unique opportunity to showcase the food products of the region in front of an influential, highly engaged, high spending, responsive audience at Ireland’s premier food and drink event.

The West Cork Regional Branding Initiative “Fuchsia Brands” will showcase up to fifty food products from West Cork, a region that possesses a unique character, beauty, tradition and culture, factors all manifest in the variety, quality and originality of its produce, products ranging from smoked salmon, preserves, confectionary, handmade chocolates and award winning farmhouse cheeses to mention but a few will be on display at stand number 28 during the two day event.

The marriage of a strong identity and reputation for quality with natural resources the products marketed under the Fuchsia Brand are firmly rooted in the unique traditions and influences of the region. High standards of product and service excellence reflect passion and enthusiasm that you will get from the producers of these products.

We invite you to experience for yourself West Cork’s finest gourmet delights, and we will be happy to address your comments or queries on aspect of the branding initiative or on any of the accredited products and services, so while your on your walk around make sure to visit us at stand number 28.

Look to the Fuchsia – its our commitment to offer you West Cork’s finest