Fare play: Local food lovers savour taste of new Irish Farmers Market in Kilkenny

Food lovers of all ages turned out to savour the return of the Irish Farmers Markets in south Kilkenny yesterday.

Mountain View outside Ballyhale provided the spectacular backdrop to the event, which featured more than 30 leading food and craft producers.

The aroma of beautiful organic – and some exotic – food filtered through the market, which featured stands stocked with bakery treats, crepes, sourdough bread, handmade chocolates and a large selection of artisan Irish cheeses, among many others.

Irish Farmers Markets Director Sean McArdle said he was “delighted” with the positive response to the event.

“It was a fantastic day and I would like to thank all of the producers and people who came for complying with social distancing and hygiene measures to ensure it was a safe event for all.”

There was a big emphasis on safety at the event, and the 120-acre site was able to comfortably cater for the crowd that strolled through the market throughout the day.

The organisers went to great lengths to ensure families felt safe and secure. All stalls were set two metres apart, with staff wearing visors and gloves and encouraging contactless transactions with customers. Queues were asked to respect the two-metre rule, with a one-way system in place, and attendants in the market helped people with shopping and information. Staff members sold masks and other personal protection equipment at the entrance and hand-wash stations were erected throughout the market area.

Bee O’Grady, who runs the exclusive Mountain View events and wedding venue with her brother Michael O’Neill, added: “It was a great day out and we were delighted to welcome people to the market. Everyone loves a day out at the market and I think we have the perfect venue for it.”

The Irish Farmers Market returns to Mountain View Sunday, and every Sunday for the rest of the summer, from 11am to 4pm.

PHOTOS: Dylan Vaughan Photography