11th November 2026
New strategy will connect local producers and hospitality to support regional activities all year round
Strategy will encourage development of compelling visitor experiences tied to local activities
Group overseeing strategy share expertise across broad cross-section of Ireland's tourism and culinary ecosystem
Culinary Tourism Strategy
Minister Peter Burke welcomed progress on the development of Ireland’s new Culinary Tourism Strategy at today’s meeting of the Culinary Delivery Stream.
The aim of the Culinary Tourism Strategy, which is a key action of the government’s tourism policy, “A New Era for Irish Tourism”, is to strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a food and drink destination. Part of this will be to support businesses to develop compelling visitor experiences and create opportunities for regional and year-round tourism. Building on local strengths, it will connect producers and hospitality through distinctive experiences, trails and festivals, supported by Tourism Ireland’s overseas promotion.
The Culinary Tourism Strategy is part of the Programme for Government and being led by Fáilte Ireland under the department’s published policy framework.
Culinary Delivery Stream
The Culinary Delivery Stream are providing strategic guidance and oversight for the development of the Culinary Tourism Strategy. Their work represents an important step in positioning food and drink as a key component of Ireland’s tourism offering and in supporting the sustainable growth and competitiveness of the sector through to 2031.
Members represent a broad cross-section of Ireland's tourism and culinary ecosystem, with expertise spanning local pubs, restaurants and hotels, visitor experiences, food and drink production, destination development, business events, food media, government, national agencies and academia.
Chair Paul O’Toole brings extensive experience in tourism, governance and senior civil service leadership. O’Toole is supported by Vice-Chairs Anna Haugh and Pat Rigney, successful business leaders in food and drink respectively.
Discussions at today’s meeting focused on the developing strategy and proposed actions, informed by feedback gathered by Fáilte Ireland through extensive stakeholder engagement. Further opportunities to contribute are envisaged as the strategy’s development progresses.
Minister Burke said:
"The development of Ireland’s Culinary Tourism Strategy represents a significant opportunity to further enhance our tourism offering and showcase the quality, authenticity and diversity of Ireland’s food and drink experiences.
“Food and drink play an important role in how visitors experience our country and can make a valuable contribution to tourism growth, regional development and local communities. I welcome the continued engagement of stakeholders through the Culinary Delivery Stream and look forward to seeing their expertise help shape a strategy that will strengthen Ireland’s culinary reputation, and support the ambitions of A New Era for Irish Tourism through to 2031."
ENDS
Notes to editors
Tourism Policy Oversight Group
- The Culinary Delivery Stream provide strategic guidance and oversight of the development of the Culinary Tourism Strategy
- The Culinary Delivery Stream is comprised of the following members:
| Name | Role | Dept/Agency/Industry |
| Paul O Toole (Chair) | Former CEO of Tourism Ireland and SOLAS, extensive senior leadership across the public service. Currently serves on several Boards including ITIC | Former Public Servant |
| Anna Haugh (Vice Chair) | Founder and owner of Myrtle Restaurant in Chelsea, London, Irish chef, Restauranter and Television Presenter | Industry |
| Pat J Rigney (Vice Chair) | Founder & Owner The Shed Distillery | Industry |
| Claire Cadogan | Head of International Trade and Partnerships, Fáilte Ireland | Tourism Agency |
| Aidan Power | Director of Marketing, Tourism Ireland | Tourism Agency |
| Shane Hamil | Bord Bia | Agency |
| Peter Johnston | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine | DAFM |
| Ian Mannix | Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) | Agency |
| Seán Collender | President of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) | Industry |
| Jack Nealon | Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) | Industry |
| JJ Mulcahy | Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) | Industry |
| Michael Vaughan | Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) | Industry |
| Aileesh Carew | Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions (AVEA) | Industry |
| Conor Meany | Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers (AIPCO) | Industry |
| Ann Marie Mahon | The Inbound Tourism Operators Association of Ireland (ITOA) | Industry |
| Margaret Jeffares | CEO, Good Food Ireland | Industry |
| Seamus Heaney | Head of Visit Cork | Industry |
| Bernie Everard | Midlands Food & Drink Network | Industry |
| Stephen Cunneen | Managing Director, Treaty City Brewery, Limerick | Industry |
| Fiona Egan | Owner, Cloughan Farm and Cookery School | Industry |
| James Cawley | Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Irish Centre for Diversity | Industry |
| Lily Ramirez- Foran | Founder, Mexican boutique grocer and cookery school, Picado Mexican; | Industry |
| Eunice Power | Chef/TV personality | Industry |
| Dr Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire | Senior Lecturer TU Dublin & Joint Principal Investigator of the Centre for Irish Studies | Academic |
| Elaine Harold | Head of the Tourism Policy Unit | DETE |
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