The European Committee of the Regions, together with the Irish Regions European Office, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, and the Southern Regional Assembly, will host a special Welcome Reception to mark the commencement of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2026.
Titled “Tionscnaimh agus Táirgí na hÉireann – Projects and Produce of Ireland”, the event brings together local and regional representatives to highlight the contribution of Ireland’s regions within Europe and to showcase the real impact of EU co-funding in communities across the country.
The Southern Regional Assembly stall features the following produce from the Southern Region:
- Spice rubs, salts and marmalade at Clo & Ali Condiments, Co Carlow.
- Ground coffee from ANAM Coffee coffee roastery, Co Clare.
- Hot chocolate from Ó’Conaill Chocolate handmade chocolates, Cork City.
- Irish whiskey from Clonakilty Distillery craft distillery, Co Cork.
- Hazy Summer Mead and Wildflower Mead from Kinsale Mead Co. meadery, Co Cork.
- Selection of Irish butter fudge from Mella’s Irish Butter Fudge, Co Cork.
- Selection of artisan chocolate shards from Skelligs Chocolate, Co Kerry.
- Artisan pot still gin from Skellig Six 18 Distillery craft distillery, Co Kerry.
- Classic pure Irish butter from Kerrygold, Co Kerry.
- Selection of artisan jams from Joan & Bobs Juicy Jams, Co Kilkenny.
- Smoked rainbow trout from Goatsbridge Rainbow Trout Farm, Co Kilkenny.
- Organic freeze dried strawberries from Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms, Co Limerick.
- Selection of traditionally made tortilla chips from Blanco Nino, Co Tipperary.
- Blaa’s from home of the Waterford Blaa, Walsh’s Bakhouse, Co Waterford.
- Comeragh raw Irish heather honey from Whitfield Honey, Co Waterford.
- Selection of artisan flaxseed crackers from Isle of Crackers, Co Wexford.
Projects showcases at the event from the ERDF Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 are:
- MTU Cyber Innovate is a needs-led, full-time, entrepreneurship training programme which allows students to fully dedicate themselves to their entrepreneurial journeys as it provides them with a 10 month tax-free scholarship.
- ARC Hub for Therapeutics is an Irish research hub dedicated to accelerating early-stage biomedical discoveries from universities into therapeutic development and commercial success.