Gilligan Meats Category Winners in JFC/Teagasc Innovation Awards
14 March 2007
Roscommon is one of only two counties countrywide to boast two finalists in the JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business, and one of those companies, Gilligan Meats won the Value Added Food production category. These awards are sponsored by JFC and organised by Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal. The awards were presented to the winners at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on Tuesday, 13 March 2007.
Padraig Gilligan, Gilligan Meats, Derrane Road, Fourmilehouse, County Roscommon, already has a reputation for premium quality products and is now diversifying into the production of tray-packed meat cuts to meet growing consumer demand. This is a niche market of locally produced farm food. All the livestock is reared on the farm, finished on a special diet of mostly farm-grown feeds and slaughtered, processed and packaged on the farm factory.
Mark Hanley and Michael Spellman of Green Grove Wood Energy, Killeenaboy, Kilteevan, County Roscommon were also among the 12 finalists. Green Grove Woods Energy plans to enter the new wood chip market collecting wood from tree felling, forestry thinnings and timber mill residues. They will process the materials as a renewable fuel for burning in customised burners.
Grain Eco, a group of Laois and Kildare tillage farmers were the overall winners of the JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business. Grain Eco is a group of six tillage farmers from Counties Kildare and Laois who have come together to grow and distribute industrial grade oats to supply the wood pellet stove and boiler market. The six farmers, Andrew Bergin, Liam Dunne, Colm Flynn, Mervyn McCann, Alan Salter and David Walsh-Kemmis are successful tillage farmers and have worked together for some years pooling resources such as: grain storage, a weighbridge and bulk purchasing materials.
Ben and Charlotte Colchester, Drumeen Farm, The Islands, Urlingford, County Kilkenny are the winners of the Energy/Environmental award for their plans to diversify into organic rape seed production. Their innovative approach will involve developing several products from the basic rape seed crop.
www.greenbee.ie won the Manufacturing/Technology category. The two young entrepreneurs, Jo Nash and Gina Geagan from Bundoran, County Donegal, were selected for developing www.greenbee.ie. Greenbee is a one-stop shop for everything renewable, sustainable and green. It is an online virtual marketplace and directory promoting sustainable living.
The JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business is a new award scheme aimed at farmers and the rural community. It is a kick-start competition where prizes are awarded for business ideas and plans. The prize fund of €30,000 comprises cash, advertising, mentoring and business support.
