Mullled wine reception connects Laois food producers with Christmas customers

Hundreds of people got into the Christmas spirit at the Connect 2 Laois Christmas Market in Manor Stone, Ballacolla just of the M8 Dublin Cork motorway.

 This proved to be a truly magical experience and was run in conjunction with Manor Stone’s annual mulled wine Christmas reception on November 30.  

Some of the food products on offer were from Aghaboe Farm Food’s home baking, G Jams, Flavour Safari, Rossmore Farmhouse Ice cream, The Merry Mill’s Organic gluten-free porridge; homemade soup, baking and hampers by The Kitchen in Rathdowney, handmade chocolate products and truffles and hot chocolate from Cocoa Couture, vegetarian produce from H&H Ltd and pestos, sauces and soups from Le Skinny Chef.

Honey and natural wax handmade candles from Dunmore Country School and fresh locally grown produce were available from Castlewood Organic Farm and Seven Acres.  Health & wellness vouchers were available from An Tobar Bó Alternative Therapies.

Connect 2 Laois for Food, a collaborative project between Laois County Council, the Local Enterprise Office and Laois Partnership, is a programme of market-led innovation, best practice transfer and product and service development.

It is aimed at supporting and nurturing start-up and established businesses in the Laois and will allow them to have access to a programme of supports to improve their businesses.

Liz Kennedy, Laois County Council, Project Co-ordinator congratulated all who participated in the Connect 2 Laois Christmas Market and said the ‘showcasing of Laois food in such a setting was a lovely afternoon and evening for all involved’.   

Tom Hennessy of Manor Stone stated he was ‘delighted with the turnout with people traveling from throughout Laois and neighbouring counties’.  

Contact:  Liz Kennedy; Connect 2 Laois for Food, REDZ Project Co-ordinator, Laois County Council

Email: lkennedy@laoiscoco.ie; Phone 086 174 6370