Ireland and France #shouldertoshoulder as Mac Ivors launch in Paris on St Patrick’s Day
Ireland is set to stand #shouldertoshoulder with France this weekend as Mac Ivors Cider Co, one of Ireland’s leading craft cider producers, is to launch in Paris with its Traditional Dry cider into just in time for St Patrick’s Day celebrations and France’s RBS clash with Wales.
The Co Armagh based cider producer, which sells its cider through 1,000 outlets North and South of Ireland, is giving the French a taste of Armagh’s famous apples just in time for their St Patrick’s Day celebrations and when France take on Wales and Ireland clash with England.
Pallets of Traditional Dry arrived a few weeks ago with French distributor C-Bev who will be importing and distributing the dry cider to wholesalers all over France.
To mark its arrival for St Patrick’s Day, a tasting event is being hosted in WHSmith in Paris close to Jardin des Tuileries and Le Louvre – an area which will be packed with rugby fans for the Round Five RBS clash between France and Wales at Stade de France.
Lucie Niffle, of C-Bev, who will be hosting the tasting, said: “This is so exciting now to have Mac Ivors Traditional Dry here in Paris for a launch especially on St Patrick’s Day and also for such a busy rugby weekend. This Irish cider tastes great and is so popular in Ireland so this is a perfect time for us to launch.
“WHSmith is the biggest and oldest English bookstore in Paris. They have a grocery shop dedicated to UK and Ireland products and they have just opened a new tearoom for brunch and lunch. This store is very much appreciated by the Parisian people who will no doubt also greatly appreciate Mac Ivors Traditional Dry which is now available for purchase in the grocery area and the restaurant.
“This is very exciting for people in France as the apples in Co Armagh are world famous and now we can taste this fantastic product here in France. ”
Greg MacNeice, the cider maker and fifth generation apple grower, said: “We are having a great week because our launch in Paris comes days after we were awarded three gold medals in the International Cider and Brewing awards 2017.
“And not only that, but, Paris will be heaving this weekend for St Patrick’s Day celebrations and of course France take on Wales at Stade de France and Ireland face England in Round Five.
“My mum is French and we used to drink gorgeous French cidre when I was growing up and I couldn’t understand, what with all the gorgeous apples here in Armagh, why we didn’t have an equivalent.
“And here we are, on St Patrick’s Day, bringing the taste of our beautiful apples, in the form of a delicious dry cider, back to France where my relatives will be loving how we are sharing our heritage.
“Good luck to France in the rugby. We hope our punters across Ireland and now also France, will be enjoying a weekend of celebrations with Mac Ivors ciders.”
Mac Ivors Cider Co will find out on April 26 at London’s Guildhall if it is an overall Cider Champion in the International Cider and Brewing Awards 2017 – an award picked up by Greg in 2015.
ENDS
- For over 150 years the MacNeice family has been growing and nurturing apples in their orchards in County Armagh. With over 100 acres of wonderful apple trees this is no easy task. But cider maker Greg MacNeicelearnt from the best – his dad Sammy, who, like his father before him, has kept this family tradition alive. Greg is now the 5th generation apple grower. Mac Ivors Cider Co is based in the orchards at Ardress where Mac Ivors Traditional Dry, Medium and Plum and Ginger ciders are produced.
- For media interviews please contact Eleanor at MGMPR LTD on 07709805379
