LISTOWEL is the home of literary genius, great food and sporting prowess as two top athletes with huge links to the Kerry town teamed-up with Miss Universe Ireland and a former Kerry GAA legend to launch the 2011 Listowel Food Fair.

Heineken Cup star Jonny Sexton, All-Ireland medal winner Bernard Brogan and the stunning Aoife Hannon lined-out with Minister Jimmy Deenihan today to launch the culinary event that will be at the centre of the Universe from 2-6 November.

Minister Deenihan, said: “It is quite extraordinary to believe that Jonny Sexton’s father Gerry grew up in Listowel next door to Dublin All-Ireland winner Bernard Brogan’s mother Maria and now they are world-beaters on the national and international sporting stages. Miss Universe Ireland, Aoife Hannon, also a native of Listowel, is also a world-beater after returning from Brazil where she represented Ireland with great distinction at the Miss Universe contest.”

Also present at today’s launch were the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, the CEO of Bord Bia, Mr Aidan Cotter and Teresa Brophy, Marketing Manager (Ireland) Bord Bia.

The Listowel Food Fair launch was held at the Headquarters of Bord Bia who provide the Demo Unit for the cooking events and who sponsor the quality assurance mark competition at the food fairinvolving 2nd level students in Listowel.

“Listowel Food Fair is as popular as the Listowel Races or Writers’ Week and this year’s programme of events will attract huge crowds from all around. Hundreds of people from the agriculture sector are expected to attend an information seminar on the future of the Irish Dairy Industry on Friday 4^th. Hundreds more will turn out of the cookery demonstration with Celebrity Chef Catherine Fulvio on Thursday 3^rd, an event which will also celebrate the winners of a range of cooking and baking awards,” the Minister added.

As part of the food festival, two mad yolks from Listowel will be in un’beat’able form ahead of the Omelette Challenge on Saturday 5^th November. Local author and publican Billy Keane will take on Joe Murphy from St John’s Centre during the Saturday Live Kitchen.

A truly community-driven event, the Listowel Food Fair, since it began in 1995, is renowned for promoting local cuisine raising the awareness of the range and quality of Kerry and Irish food products through a variety of seminars, tastings and cookery demonstrations. Keep an eye on www.listowelfoodfair.com and on Facebook.

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