Minister hails West Cork Farm Tours initiative

Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine Michael Creed hailed West Cork’s newest set of ambassadors for the agri food sector at the official launch on Friday of the West Cork Farm Tours initiative.

The well-attended launch took place at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery and among the attendance were Deridre Clune, MEP, Minister of State Jim Daly and TDs Margaret Murphy O’Mahony and Michael Collins, as well as local clergy.

Neil Grant, general manager of the Celtic Ross Hotel, speaking on behalf of the three hotels involved – Fernhill House Hotel and the Emmet Hotel in Clonakilty also – emphasised the common bond of family-run enterprises amongst all involved in West Cork Farm Tours, with the O’Neill family running Fernhill for generations, the O’Keeffes at the Emmet and the Wycherleys at the Celtic Ross.

Compere for the occasion, Máire McCarthy, introduced representatives of the five farm families involved in the enterprise – each of whom said a few words about what their farms offered – as well as JJ Walsh, sales and marketing manager of the Carbery Group, who said he had never been as excited about an agri initiative during his long career as he was about West Cork Farm Tours.

Marie Healy of Fáilte Ireland praised all involved in the West Cork Farm Tours project and spoke of the huge potential it has to extend the season for tourism providers in the area.

The five farming families involved are Willie & Avril Allshire of Caherbeg Farm, Rosscarbery; John Joe & Theresa O’Sullivan, Garrane, Rosscarbery; Michael & Marguerite Crowley, Bauravilla, Skibbereen; Denis & Colette O’Donovan, Glandore, and Tommy Moyles from Ardfield;

•    Read more in the coming week’s Southern Star, in the shops on Thursday, October 26th.