Old family recipe grows into new Baile Bhuirne business

AN old family recipe and entrepreneurial spirit has created a new product and jobs in Baile Bhúirne.

Putóg De Róiste, black and white pudding production facility was officially opened last Thursday on the local Údarás na Gaeltachta industrial estate where, thanks to the efforts of two well-known families, the De Róiste and Allen family of Baile Bhúirne and the Stauntons of Timoleague, it is expected the new business will soon provide 10 jobs.

Some 100 people attended the launch of Putóg De Róiste, as Údarás officials, public representatives, locals and students from Darina Allen's international cookery school in Ballymaloe got a taste of the new product.

Fresh pork and blood is used for the production of Putóg De Róiste. The pudding process is based on a recipe once used by Elsie De Róiste, grandmother of Máire and Seán De Róiste of the shop by the same name at the Mills, Baile Bhúirne.

Seánie, Máire and her husband, De Róiste director Jimmy Allen, decided to further develop the traditional pudding production when Jimmy's plumbing business decreased due to the economic downturn.

Referring to their first meeting with butcher Anthony Staunton and to Department of Agriculture and Food regulations, Jimmy Allen said: "The only thing that was in Máire's head was how will we get fresh blood into the pudding?" "About three weeks later Anthony rang back and said it can be done – so that was the start of Putóg De Róiste."

Another member of the family - Food Science and Technology graduate, Siobhán Ní Laoithe De Róiste – advised the company regarding production regulations.

Putóg De Róiste currently employs four and it is expected that will increase to ten employees within a few years.

"We are hoping that in the future we are going to create a nice bit of employment in this parish," said Jimmy Allen. "Down through the years, through Siopa De Róiste and myself (the plumbing business), in the good times we have employed about 20 people – we are down to 12 or 13, but we're still here and here for the long haul."

The company already has its products on shelves in major retail outlets such as Supervalue and Centra.