We’ve already got a stellar line-up for the Inishfood weekend of 11-13 March, but Donal, Caroline and Kristin were wondering if we could make it even more special. That’s when we hit on the idea of organising a raffle for hampers full of fabulous Irish food, restaurant vouchers, cookbooks and other fantastic prizes, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity (we’ve chosen Barnardos).

Due to the high level of interest, we’ll be running three separate raffles: one for the attendees at the event itself, one for the non-attendees who donate online and one for everyone. For the lucky people going to the Inishfood event itself, you can buy your tickets on the night. But even if you can’t be there, you can still be a part of Inishfood by buying raffle tickets online! We’ll be raffling a selection of prizes specifically for the non-attendees who donate via THIS LINK on the Barnardos website (please note that you must donate via this link only for your donation to be counted towards the raffle). Tickets are €5 each. And remember - this online option is for the people who can’t make it to the event itself and delivery is limited to residents of Ireland (including Northern Ireland). Closer to the event, we’ll announce the prizes that will be raffled off in the three raffles, but they’ll be chosen from the list below.

Everyone wins – donors will get a chance to put their product in front of some of Ireland’s top foodies and food bloggers, Barnardos will get a donation towards their valuable work and some very lucky people will go home with some amazing prizes.

If you’re a food producer, cookbook publisher, restaurant or café or other food business and would like to donate something to be included in the raffle at what’s been described by the Bridgestone Guides as ‘THE foodie event of the year’, then email us at for more details.

Thank you to the following donors for their generous contributions:

• Bailies Handroasted Coffee – award-winning coffee
• Burren Smokehouse – Irish Smoked Organic Salmon
• Café Novo at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin – voucher for dinner for 2, including a bottle of wine of your choice
• Carluccio’s - a signed copy of one of Antonio Carluccio’s cookbooks and chocolate truffles
• Chocolate Here - a few bars of Gillian’s artisan chocolate
• Country Choice – Peter Ward is parting with a magnum of Chateau Fontarache from his personal stash as well as a bottle of their own extra virgin olive oil
• Dungarvan Brewing Company – craft beer
• Dunhill Castle Sparkling Spirit – hand-blended fusion of Irish spirit (13% vol) and unfermented apples
• Eilis Boyle – an apron from her forthcoming home wear range
• Georgina Campbell - copies of her book, Ireland for Food Lovers
• Glebe Brethan – award-winning cheese and David Tiernan’s renowned raw milk
• Glenilen Farm – 2 hampers of their products (and congrats to them on winning Best Food & Drink award at the Small Firms Association National Small Business Awards 2011!)
• Goastbridge Premium Irish Trout – smoked trout
• Greenside Up Veg – a garden consultation or voucher for a workshop
• Headland New Media – a week’s stay in Breasty Bay Cottage, the last home in Ireland
• Inchhouse Black Pudding - traditional black pudding
• J&G Seafoods – £50 voucher
• James Whelan Butchers – a copy of An Irish Butcher Shop cookbook by Pat Whelan and a voucher for their shop
• Kevin and France McGuinness – a bottle of Moët champagne
• L. Mulligan. Grocer. – a €50 voucher
• La Cucina – a three-course dinner for two, including a bottle of wine
• Le Presbytère – dinner and one night’s free stay for 2 people at their B&B in Languedoc
• Lynda McFarland (Athlone Nutrition Clinic) – nutrition wall charts
• Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants – a bottle of Green Spot whiskey, cited in “100 Whiskies to Try Before You Die” by Ian Buxton
• Mourne Seafood Bar – voucher for their new cookery school due to open this summer
• Nutritious Nibbles – gourmet gluten-free cookies
• Patchwork Veg – herb boxes
• Pure Sushi – a voucher for a sushi platter
• Red Nose Wine – a magnum of Anges Domaine des Red Archange 2007, an Irish-owned, Irish-made organic wine in Provence
• Slated Ireland – handcrafted slate tableware
• Tastefully Yours – gourmet artisan chutneys, relishes and pickles
• The Bombay Pantry - 2 vouchers
• The Bridgestone Guides – copies of their 100 Best books and Pizza Defined
• The Cloister Restaurant and the Queens Hotel- dinner for two plus a cocktail & canape reception and one night’s accommodation in the Queens Hotel in Ennis
• The Garden Kitchen Rowallane - their last jar (!) of chutney and jars of marmalade as well as a place at their baking workshop on 9 April
• The Green Apron Artisan Preserve Company – artisan preserves
• The Little Coffee House – a free gig where they will attend a party/event of the winner’s choosing and serve their selection of teas, coffees and hot chocolates for up to 200 guests
• The Tannery – copies of their cookbook
• TJ Crowe – organic ham, organic rashers and free-range sausages
• Uluru Bistro – copies of the Cook for Ulster Yes Chef cookbook
• Viewmount House - a tasting dinner for 2 people plus 1 night’s B&B accommodation
• Williams’ Honey – jars of their two-time World Honey Cup winning honey, produced in Cahir, Co. Tipperary

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Who’s ready for another foodies on tour adventure? Working together with the inspiring Donal Doherty at Harry’s Bar & Restaurant, we’ve planned a food-filled, hands-on weekend on 11-13 March in Inishowen, Co. Donegal.

Starting on Friday, 11 March, we’ll be having a get-together at Linsfort Castle B&B from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Darren Bradley is offering to make a sample of pizzas in his wood-fired pizza oven (check out the photo sequence of the oven being built on Darren’s blog) and Donal Doherty will be providing food as well. Seaneen and Collin from L. Mulligan. Grocer will also be conducting a beer tasting, but since this is just a taste, it’s BYOB on Friday. Space is limited, so booking is essential! An hour of Rambling House storytelling and music will then take place from 9 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, 12 March is going to be a busy, hands-on day! The fee for the day will be €40, which will cover lunch and the Taste of Inishowen dinner (drinks will be extra). Donal will be donating €10 from this fee to iCARE, the local autism charity; any extra donations would be welcome.

9.45 Coffee Angel and Bailie’s Hand Roasted Coffee will demonstrate how to correctly brew coffee at home. Feel free to bring something to share with coffee.
10.30 Intro and welcome by Donal Doherty of Harry’s Bar & Restaurant and Caroline Hennessy and Kristin Jensen from the IFBA
10.45 – 12.00 Masterclass with butchers Ed Hick, TJ Crowe and Jack McCarthy making fresh black pudding – bring an apron! (hands-on participants for this will be limited)
12 – 12.45 Imen McDonnell will be demonstrating modern farmhouse butter making
12.45 – 1.15 A light lunch
1.15 – 1.45 David Tiernan will talk about how he started making his amazing Glebe Brethan cheese and will provide samples (maybe even some of his famous raw milk!)
1.45 – 3.00 Ed Hick, TJ Crowe and JackMcCarthy will show us how to cure pork (the Quality Mark pork has been kindly sponsored by Bord Bia!). Participants for this will be limited to 16 and you’ll need to bring a 2 litre container with a lid that you won’t need to use for 5 weeks while your pork cures in it!
3.00 – 4.00 Inishfood think tank and chat – an informal discussion on what we can do for Irish food to promote it and send a common message.
4.00 – 4.45 A visit to Harry’s new walled garden project and a talk with GIY Ireland about The Pledge. Gareth Austin, BBC Radio Horticulturist, will also be on hand with practical DIY help as part of GIY Week
5.00 – 7.00 Break for everyone to freshen up for dinner
7.00 A Taste of Inishowen feast at Harry’s, all made from local produce
9:00 We’ll be raffling off hampers and gift bags full of amazing Irish food as well as other incredible prizes, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Barnardos charity (you can see the list of prizes here). In addition, Georgina Campbell has generously donated a copy of her book, Ireland for Food Lovers, for everyone in attendance at Inishfood!

On Sunday, 13 March, you have two options. How about a stunning coastal walk at Malin Head, a boat ride around the Garvan Isles and a fresh seafood lunch with the port it was landed in view? Full details are available here. If you’re interested, email . The boat ride will be done on a first come, first served basis and is free, as is the walk. The splendid €10 seafood lunch at the Seaview Tavern would be worth the trip alone! The 2-hour walk will start at 10 a.m. (bring proper clothing and sturdy boots!), followed by the boat ride and lunch. You should be back on the road by 2 p.m. or so.

If you don’t have the time for that adventure though, Donal Doherty will lead a 1-hour shore walk on Lough Swilly, weather permitting, so we can all take in the beautiful countryside around Inishowen.

As for accommodation, Donal has personally recommend Linsfort Castle B&B (25 minutes from Harry’s; listed as one of the 100 best places to stay in Ireland in the Bridgestone Guide) and the Westbrook House B&B (15 minutes from Harry’s). Both B&Bs are offering a rate of €30 per person per night for 2 nights, or €35 per person if only staying on Saturday night only. Be sure to quote Harry’s when booking either B&B. If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, the An Grianán Hotel is only 2 miles from Harry’s and they are offering a special reduced rate of €65 per night for single occupancy and twin/double rooms for €99 per night. The hotel must be booked through Donal () to avail of this reduced rate. There’s a wedding in the hotel that night, so book quickly if you’re interested in this option. The Linsfort Castle B&B, Westbrook House and An Grianán Hotel are now fully booked. Accommodation is also available at the Lake of Shadows Hotel and Caldra B&B – be sure to quote Harrys when making your booking to avail of the special rate of €35 per person per night. The Red Door country house is also offering a special rate of €120 per room for 1 night and €200 for 2 nights – to book, call Frances on 074 936 0289 and mention the IFBA event.

If you have a smart phone, John Ward has created an app just for the Inishfood weekend – you can check it out here.

If you’d like to take part in what’s sure to be an unforgettable weekend and what the Bridgestone Guides have called the foodie event of the year, drop us a line at and be sure to join the group on the IFBA website.

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