Home Grown in Donegal – new food market to open in Dunfanaghy

A new artisan market offering quality food produced locally is opening in Dunfanaghy.

Home Grown in Donegal will run the second Saturday of every month and only Donegal Food Producers will be able to take part. It is upstairs in Revive so will not be weather dependent and organisers way it will complement the Dunfanaghy Country Market and other stall holders already selling in the Market Square.

The new market is the brainchild of Kathy Dunn who owns Revive in the Market Square, Dunfanaghy. Revive  has been operating for the past 13 years. It opened initially as a pre-loved furniture store offering a variety of DIY courses and an eclectic range of Nik Naks and furniture. Revive has developed over the years and still has that quirky mix of pre-loved belongings, crafts, locally produced foods and excellent coffee.

Kathy and the first three producers to sign up initially met through the Donegal Women In Business Network and are now all members of The Donegal Food Coast.  The Donegal Food Coast was developed by the Donegal Local Enterprise Office, establishing Donegal as a Food County.

Kathy said: “I hosted a Donegal Women In Business Network coffee morning here in Revive last year and since then have got to know Marianne from Kombucha Na Dalaigh, Cindy from Coco Milis, and of course I have known Sian from Wild Fuschia Bakehouse for many years as she is based here in Dunfanaghy. 

“I had a chat with them about starting a market for local producers one day a month and they thought it was a fantastic idea. Marianne, Cindy and Sian had just been to Philadelphia with the Donegal LEO and were really keen to work together.”

Sian is equally enthusiastic.

She said: “I was delighted to be asked and of course I am really looking forward to working with Marianne and Cindy.  We are going to be working together in July to deliver a course combining our skills so people can have fun trying out new techniques at home.  

“We really like the thought of using excellent Donegal ingredients in a cookery class. For example, I will be using some of Cindy’s chocolate and Marianne is going to use some of my rhubarb and strawberry jam in her kombucha.”

There are a few spots left in the market, so if there are any local Donegal Food Producers who would like to take part they can contact Kathy in Revive directly for details. The first market is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 8. Kathy can be contacted at revivedunfanaghy@gmail.com or by calling  086 2277663.