FOR the last few weeks we have been taking part in a Belfast City Airport and Food NI competition to be in with a chance of winning £30k marketing support at the airport.

What a phenomenal prize!

So their teams kicked off a Facebook voting competition which meant the product picture which could drum up the most likes is in with a chance of winning the big prize.

We put forward a picture of our light, fresh and fruity Medium Cider. It is a lively blend and people love it. With the focus on the modern dessert apple varieties this cider delivers a mouth watering and easy drinking refreshment while staying true to our belief that cider should taste of real apples.

Between continuing to produce great tasting cider, and trying not to annoy people’s heads, we still managed to rack up 1.6k likes on the Belfast City Airport Facebook entry. Not quite enough but congratulations to Long Meadow Cider who trooped through the finish line with 2k votes.

We couldn’t let the opportunity pass without saying a huge thank you to every single person who voted for us, who shared our posts, who liked our posts, who tagged friends and also to those who have left comments.

These voting competitions are arduous at the best of times so the comments have made us smile along the way.

Here is small pick out of a large selection:

Niall McNeice said: “If you had a drop of Mac Ivors with thon big chunk of beef, you’d be laughing, good work Mac Ivors Cider Co.”

Pauline Hunter said: “Best cider around.”

Sylvia McIvors said: “Two words. THE BEST.”

Claire Thayers said: “I love a good cider.” (In a Gloucestershire accent)

The Foggy Dew commented: “Great cider.”

Barbara Shanahan added: “The best cider in the world – the dryer the better.”

Derek Marsden: “Fresh, easy drinking cider.”

The Merrion Inn commented: “Great cider. Goes great with our Thai Beef Salad. Yum!” (And it really does too – delicious!)

Matt McNeice said: “Good work Mac Ivors. This is a great drop.”

Tsar David Owen Mahonsky described our Medium Cider as: “A tidy aul bit of gargle – give her some love.” – We love that word – gargle!

And just one last one – Carol Meenan of The Yellow Pepper said: “Our best selling cider.”

So thank you to every single person for getting us this far. Between watching the blossom, driving round Ireland with kegs, washing kegs, collecting kegs, filling kegs, selling through over 1,000 outlets across Ireland, making sure the Irish, French and Italian cider drinking contingent are happy and heading to London to collect our three gold medals in the International Brewing and Cider Awards – it’s been a busy few weeks.

So, a big cheers guys! Pour yourself a glass of the good stuff and enjoy that fabulous sunshine.

From Greg, Sarah and the team at Mac Ivors Cider Co. #followthefox