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Our founding Chair, @pat_whelan says the idea of the network came about thanks to a @slowfood long table dinner at our farm in 2007. While I was enjoying the dinner, others were taking note of the number of local food producers, and thinking of the value of working together.
In 2008, we built a website of producers (14 at the beginning), and had a launch event in Cahir Castle, this time organised by ourselves. The purpose was to highlight that these 14 small businesses were employing 180 people, and spending €15 million in the local economy annually
The first Network meeting was held in 2009 at the Cashel Palace Hotel, with @Pat_Whelan as Chairman. Projects were embarked upon, both public-facing and for members of the network, and right from the start we were backed by @LEOTipperary and Mairead English Maher.
We wanted to engage in shared learning, to share our individual knowledge and resources and to share in each-others foods. The vision was always to position Tipperary as the cradle of nourishment, by virtue of its natural environment and the integrity of its food producers.
