‘Lamb burgers will definitely sell’

ENSURING there is more lamb on Irish menus from high-end restaurants to fast food businesses is something that TJ Gormley feels passionately about.

“My big argument is that there is not enough sheep meat sold here,” he says, adding they should be targeting more major events such as the Galway Races.

“I think a lot more could be done — how many restaurants do you go into and you don’t see lamb on the menus?

“I recently spoke with Pat McDonagh from Supermac’s, saying it was about time we put a lamb burger on the market. It would use up the cheaper cuts of lamb.”

TJ said the fast food boss told him to come back to him with a few burger options, which he is now looking into through the Texel group.

He admits that many younger shoppers don’t always opt for a leg of lamb or stick to the traditional Sunday dinners any more.

“Lamb burgers and processed lamb will definitely sell. That is where I see the growing market with meals such as lamb and mushroom pie,” he says.

However, when it comes to ram lambs he feels taste is an issue and they should only be consumed early in the season rather than towards the back end of the year.

He says the €25m funding for the sheep sector, which could amount to €10 a lamb, would be very welcome.

“If you take the hours put in on a sheep farm, particularly in the springtime, it is slave labour,” he says.

“I heard an option for the €10 payment could include electronic tagging. It is in a big enough mess without tying us into another grant scheme.”