Who are Ireland’s food champions?

Getting visitors to Ireland to "stop more, spend more and stay longer" is at the heart of a Fáilte Ireland food tourism initiative led by 16 newly appointed 'food champions', who join six already working in their local communities. The new appointees were chosen from more than 400 nominations made by representatives of the tourism, food and hospitality industries.

Among the new names spearheading this food tourism initiative are French woman Ketty Elizabeth, who runs Delicious Dublin Tours and writes the French Foodie in Dublin blog, and Australian-born former lawyer turned publican and restaurateur Seáneen Sullivan, who is a partner in L Mulligan Grocer in Dublin's Stoneybatter.

Elizabeth, who is from the Loire Valley, came to Dublin to work in the travel industry in 2004. "Being from outside Ireland and being recognised as a champion for Irish food tourism is an honour. Food in Dublin is so exciting, there is so much going on. I just want to show people that food is another reason to visit Dublin."

Sullivan is studying for a Masters in brewing and distilling, and is a partner in the Brown Paper Bag Project, which she describes as a locationless brewery producing collaborative beers. “I love Dublin fiercely and I love what is happening around food. This is a really exciting time to work on something like this. Part of the reason I love Dublin is that Dublin loves to celebrate what is special about itself. Dubliners love to share their tips, as though it is a great secret they are imparting only to you. We have started to do this with the food, started to tell the story,” she says.

The list of new food champions also includes chefs Gearóid Lynch (Old Poste Inn, Cavan), John Relihan (Holy Smoke, Cork), Kevin Ahern (Sage, Midleton), Garrett Fitzgerald (Brother Hubbard, Dublin), Niall Sabongi (Klaw, Dublin), Áine Maguire (The Idle Wall, Westport), Chris Molloy (The LemonTree, Letterkenny) and Tom Flavin (The Strand Hotel, Limerick).

The appointments were made in the counties that feature in Fáilte Ireland's newest tourism brands – Ireland's Ancient East, and Dublin – A Breath of Fresh Air, and in the established Wild Atlantic Way. Seven new appointments were made in the Ireland's Ancient East catchment area, five in Dublin, and four in the Wild Atlantic Way. Existing food champions Olivia Duff, Pádraig Óg Gallagher, Mark Murphy, Jacinta Dalton, Ruth Healy and Bríd Torrades continue in their roles.

"The emerging food champions have already been working hard in their regions and can now become a part of our network, which we will support and guide as they continue to develop food tourism experiences," said John Mulcahy, Fáilte Ireland's Head of Hospitality, Food & Standards.

The full list of 2016 Food Champions is:

Ireland’s Ancient East

Anthony O’Toole (Culinarian Press) Wexford

Claire Dalton (Dungarvan Brew Co) Waterford

Gearóid Lynch (The Olde Post Inn) Cavan

Judith Boyle (Beer sommelier, publican) Kildare

Patrick Ryan (Firehouse Bakery) Wicklow

John Relihan (Holy Smoke) Cork

Kevin Ahern (Sage) Cork

Olivia Duff (The Headfort Arms Hotel) Meath

Dublin – A Breath of Fresh Air

Garrett Fitzgerald (Brother Hubbard)

Ivan Varian (Dalkey Food Company)

Niall Sabongi (Klaw)

Ketty Elizabeth (French Foodie in Dublin)

Seáneen Sullivan (L Mulligan Grocer)

Pádraic Óg Gallagher (The Boxty House)

Wild Atlantic Way

Áine Maguire (The Idle Wall) Mayo

Gabriel Faherty (Aran Islands Goat's Cheese) Galway

Chris Molloy (The Lemon Tree) Donegal

Tom Flavin (The Strand Hotel) Limerick

Mark Murphy (Dingle Cookery School) Kerry

Jacinta Dalton (Dept Culinary Arts, GMIT) Galway

Ruth Healy (Urru Culinary Store) Cork

Bríd Torrades (Osta Cafe) Sligo