Slane finds a new rock market

It is said that out of a crisis always grows another opportunity, and this can be said for the growers and producers of the Boyne Valley, and Slane in particular, who have come together on the local Conyngham Rock Farm to provide a country market.

Alex and Carina Conyngham have been growing produce on the lands across the river from Slane Castle, as well as providing glamping facilities, and catering for events such as weddings in a specially built barn.

But Covid-19 put paid to a lot of that, as well as their supplying of organic farm produce to restaurants in Dublin.

"During lockdown, we were busy keeping our honesty box filled," Carina Conyngham explains.

"For the past four or five years, we have had a market for our produce down at the bridge at the entrance to the farm, for organic eggs, and vegetables. During lockdown, with people out walking, it got busier, and then people were asking about other produce like cheeses."

With major outlets like the Dublin restaurants and their own events out of the picture, and a greater demand on the produce at the gate, Carina floated the idea of a market in the now disused barn to her colleagues in the Slane Good Food Circle, and the Slane Co-op Group set up by Aisling Law of nearby Rosnaree House.

"The haybarn was there, so we had the space, and it allows for social distancing," Carina explains.

Producers like Michael Finnegan’s Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese and Mark Jenkinson’s Cider Mill came on board, and the Boyne Valley Flavours group organised pre-order boxes that can be ordered on Wednesdays and collected on Thursdays.

Some of those stallholders selling their produce were Brenda Rock and her husband, Goulwen Personnic, with their Buddha bakery.

Both were out of work as a result of coronavirus lay-offs, Brenda as a yoga teacher, and Goulwen as a chef.

"He started baking to keep busy," Brenda explains. "And we set up a little stall in the back garden. We had an honestry box, and neighbours started getting breads and savouries from us."

Living on the outskirts of Slane on the Collon Road, lots of villagers out walking also dropped by, and Brenda says she got to know neighbours she had rarely seen before.

"It was a great way to get to know people, and we could chat away – socially distancing across the wall, or course."

With both due back to work soon, they are going to try and figure out a way to keep the baking going, while juggling their jobs.

"Some of my yoga clients will like things like the vegan banana bread and the sugar free granola," she says.

Busy selling their redcurrant cordial and lemonade were Aisling Law’s granddaughters, Ramona and Rosalee, as well as cookies, and card and gift tags, 10 per cent of the proceeds of which were going to the Phibsboro Cat Rescue Centre.

Daniel and Liam O’Reilly were selling eggs from the family farm at Beauparc.

"We have 200 hens roaming around free range, and we were selling eggs from the house by the tray. This market was a good opportunity to sell, and we are selling them by the boxes here, and they are going quite well," Daniel says.

Mark Jenkinson planted his orchard at Stackallen about 10 years ago, and he has 12 acres with 120 different varieties of apples, and pears, for cider making. He produces ciders, apple juices, and perry from pears. His Cockagee cider has won numerous craft awards, and he had many different flavours of cider, from dry and fruity to smooth and spice and farmhouse draught.

Other producers at the Rock Farm on Thursdays include Clarke’s Strawberries, Newgrange Gold Oils, McEntee’s Fine Teas, Dunany Flour, Bee Natural beeswax wraps, Silly Sids Icecream, and a selection of luxury chutneys, conserves and jellies and award-winning marmalades from Hilda’s Homemades, The Moy, Summerhill, some served up on tasty burgers from Sarah on the burger stall.