Marine to hold Food fair

The Marine Hotel, Ballycastle will once again host an exclusively Gluten Free Food Fair on Saturday 8th April.

The Gluten Free Ireland Food Fairs are for sufferers of Coeliac disease and those on a gluten free diet. Attracting visitors from around the country, the family events showcase local and national gluten free food producers as well providing advice and support on living gluten free.

Michael Thompson is the marketing director for Gluten Free Ireland: “Ballycastle and the Marine Hotel were the first to host our exclusively gluten free show back in 2014, so we’re always thrilled to come back and make a weekend of it. In the past people have travelled from Dublin and Donegal for this event and like ourselves, make the most of all the North Coast has to offer, as well as enjoying an afternoon browsing the latest gluten free foods and meeting other people with the same challenges, swapping ideas and recipes and making new friends.

Expanded Line Up

To further enable people with disabilities to access the exhibitors’ stands, the food fair will open at 12 noon, with access to the general public from 1pm until 4pm.

There will also be a chocolate demonstration from The Chocolate Manor, balloons and face painting, gluten free giveaways and dietitians from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust will be on hand to answer your dietary questions.

A list of exhibitors is also available on the event web page: http://gfr.ee/ballycastle17

Coeliac Disease in Ireland

With Coeliac disease affecting one out of every hundred people in Ireland, the need for gluten free options in catering venues is paramount. Finding those venues and getting peace of mind can mean the difference between enjoying a day out and simply not leaving the house in fear of debilitating reactions to gluten intolerance.

While the after effects of eating food containing gluten varies from a painful rash to full blown sickness and joint pain, many people not diagnosed with Coeliac disease choose to lead a gluten free lifestyle to ease similar symptoms they experience.

The Marine Hotel is the first hotel in Northern Ireland to receive accreditation from Coeliac UK, the main organisation which licenses the grain symbol for food producers in the UK. The hotel restaurant offers a range of Coeliac meals and show visitors can eat or stay during the weekend with a range of activities available in the area.

Gluten Free Ireland

Gluten Free Ireland was started by husband and wife team, Derek and Christina Thompson from their home in Ballynahinch in 2010. Since then www.glutenfreeireland.com, built by their son Michael, has become one of the best known and most active communities for people with Coeliac disease in Northern Ireland and Ireland. By building on the success of their hospitality database, a comprehensive list created by hand, Derek and Christina published the first guide book for eating out gluten free in Ireland.

Visiting the Event

The event will be open from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturday 8th April in the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle. Free parking is available at the hotel. Entry is £3 for adults and children are free. For more details go to http://gfr.ee/ballycastle17