Food for the body and soul
Lifestyle - Margaret Leahy moved to Conamara from Mayo five years ago to help cope with the grief of her husband’s death. The organic farmer, keen cook and terrific organiser has now started running solo tours based around artisan producers and farmers in Galway. She tells BERNIE NÍ FHLATHARTA what’s involved.
Holidays centred around food have become increasingly popular — winery tours on the continent, Tuscany for its cheeses and wines and Paris for its culinary delights.
Now there’s the Wild Atlantic Way, opening up a whole new world of farmers and small producers who are creating artisan food that can certainly match those elsewhere in Europe.
Conamara based Margaret Leahy is the brains behind Irish Artisan Food Tours which is being launched this summer.
Margaret will be guiding small groups around the county to introduce them to these wonderful foodie delights, a bespoke five-day holiday if you like.
She’s aiming these holidays at solo travellers, ensuring everyone has their own room in the various hotels — for now it’s The Twelve in Barna and Renvyle House Hotel — and yet being in company.
It seems like such a simple idea and many might be kicking themselves that they hadn’t thought of tapping into the wonderful fresh, mostly organic food available in the West, turn it into a touring holiday.
Yes, it might be a great idea but not everyone has Margaret’s organisational skills — she has and still works in the community sector. She’s not afraid of hard work and she admits that this venture is mixing her love of travel with her passion for good food.
Margaret has also gained hands-on experience working an organic farm. To gain further knowledge of and insight into the organic community nationwide, she got involved with the Irish Organic Association (IOFGA) becoming its first female chair. She continues to be a keen gardener and an advocate for artisan food.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.