Building Cross Border Relationships Through Food

L - R, David Gibson (Gibsons Chemists, Limavady), Lisa Smyth (Row by Roe), Fiona Pegrum (Project Assistant, CRUN), Gillian Gibson (Gibson Chemists, Limavady), Sue Glackin (Donegal Food Tours), Dougie Bartlett (Author), Toni Forrester (CEO at Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce), Declan Devlin (Devlin Residential, Limavady), Ann McNichol (Manager CRUN), Jim Peoples (The Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly), Irene Sweeney (Sales & Marketing Manager at CastleGrove Country House Hotel), Donald Morgan (The Alexander Arms Hotel, Limavady), Mairead People (The Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly) & Julie Brolly (Cafe Piazza)

Last week we hosted a wonderful group of business owners from the Limavady area on a food tour. The outing was organised by CRUN ( Causeway Rural and Urban Network ) in conjunction with Donegal Food Tours to create cross border relationships and to meet representatives of the Local Enterprise Office as well as Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce. It was a great opportunity for Limavady Chamber members to ask questions about Letterkenny’s economic growth over the last 20 years and how we plan to further develop it.

The groups first food stop of the day was The Lemon Tree Restaurant for a cookery demonstration with Chef Chris Molloy. Then it was onto the Donegal Food Tours bus for the short drive out of town to CastleGrove Country House Hotel, stopping before the house for a walk round the enchanting walled garden. Michael Tunney, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office and Toni Forrester, CEO of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce joined the group after their walk for a mini afternoon tea in CastleGrove House. Here, they gave an overview of enterprise and the economic growth of Letterkenny over the last couple of decades, which invoked an inspiring questions and answers session. Later in the afternoon the group journey past the stunning Mulroy Bay to Hooked at Donegal Boardwalk outside Carrigart. This was a short stop to some local seafood dishes before travelling back toward Letterkenny for a beer tasting at renowned Kinnegar Brewing.

L – R, David Gibson (Gibsons Chemists, Limavady), Lisa Smyth (Row by Roe), Fiona Pegrum (Project Assistant, CRUN), Gillian Gibson (Gibson Chemists, Limavady), Sue Glackin (Donegal Food Tours), Dougie Bartlett (Author), Toni Forrester (CEO at Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce), Declan Devlin (Devlin Residential, Limavady), Ann McNichol (Manager CRUN), Jim Peoples (The Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly), Irene Sweeney (Sales & Marketing Manager at CastleGrove Country House Hotel), Donald Morgan (The Alexander Arms Hotel, Limavady), Mairead People (The Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly) & Julie Brolly (Cafe Piazza)

Causeway Rural and Urban Network are working in conjunction with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to deliver a Cross-Border Programme aimed at developing and strengthening relations with border county areas. http://crun.org/

This cross-border programme is part of the Councils £3.8m Local Authority Action Plan which has been funded under the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. It has been designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland.  The ERDF also contributes to the promotion of social and economic stability, through actions to promote cohesion between communities. Match-funding for the Action Plan has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department for Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Ann McNickle, CRUN Project Manager said “this was a fantastic opportunity for like-minded groups to meet up. The trip was a great success and the group have come away with fresh ideas on how to invigorate the Limavady business economy.”

If you would like to organise a Corporate Team Building day, then get in touch. We would be more than happy to tailor make a package to your specific needs. Contact : info@donegalfoodtours.com