Limerick is a county rich in history of food production and Limerick City was a food producing centre with many factories based here in times gone by, from the four famous bacon factories – Matterson’s, Denny’s, O’Mara’s and Shaw’s – to Ranks flour mill, Cleeve’s Toffee and condensed milk factory, whiskey distilleries and more. Farmers throughout the region would have supplied these factories and they were huge employers in the city and beyond.
County Limerick takes in an area known as the ‘Golden Vale’, which is regarded as the best land in Ireland for dairy farming. Cheese producers in the region include Bally Goat’s Cheese, Cahill’s Cheese, O’Brien’s Cheese, and Old Irish Creamery. Other dairy producers include Adare Farm Ice-Cream and Little Milk Company organic dairy farmers.
The Ballyhoura mountains are located in the south-east of County Limerick and are listed as a Special Area of Conservation. Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms operate from this location growing and supplying Irish gourmet mushrooms and foraged wild Irish mushrooms. They are growers and suppliers found on the menus of many of Ireland’s top restaurants. You’ll find them selling in Limerick’s famous Saturday food market at the Milk Market too!
Cotter Organic Lamb is 100% grass fed lamb produced on the organic family sheep farm in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick by the Cotter Brothers, Jack and Nick.
Attyflin Estate in Patrickswell is known for its juice drinks and apple cider vinegar produced from their 10-acre walled orchards.
Ballyhoura Apple Farm is another renowned Limerick orchard, based in Kilfinane at the foot of the Ballyhoura Mountains and their raw apple cider vinegar is very popular in shops the length and breadth of the country.
Irish Peat Wine was created by BT Wines, it is the first of its kind in the world and is comprised of Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc grapes from Germany and peat sourced locally in west Limerick. Brendan & Trisha, the duo behind BT Wines, have spent years researching and experimenting with a wide variety of grapes and processes to make their idea a reality, to create truly unique wines, which marry the peat lands of Ireland with grape varieties everyone knows and loves.
Local independent craft brewers include Treaty City Brewing in Limerick City, and JJs Craft Brewing Company in Kilmallock.
New Leaf Urban Farmers was created by Kevin Wallace, a producer of high quality, local, seasonal vegetables and mixed greens located in Ballyneety. It grows chemical-free produce which is ethically produced using plant-based fertilisers and composts.
Rigney’s Farm produces hand made sausages, rashers and black pudding, hams and bacon, fresh pork, and her own recipe granola from their farmhouse B&B in Curraghchase, Co. Limerick.
This is just a sample of what’s on offer from Limerick’s larder – there are new food producers popping up all the time.
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