THE CHARCOAL MAKERS

WHO knew there was an Irish company making charcoal from our own hardwood forests? ‘Sales are absolutely booming,’ says Colin O’Loan, from Clarinbridge, Co Galway, of the Westmeath-based Irish Artisan Charcoal Company.

‘We are supplying the Guinness Meatopia festival in Dublin this weekend and we supply several Michelin-star restaurants and lots of other restaurants and hotels. The hotels are all making the most of the weather by hosting outdoor events and BBQs.

‘It isn’t too often we can say we’re thriving but the last couple of weeks have been crazy. The orders are flying in.

I know in May we sold more 30% more charcoal than we did for the entire year up to that date and we’ve just matched that for June.’

The company, now two and a half years old, makes the charcoal in a kiln in Tang, outside Athlone, using 100% Irish grown hardwood — ash oak, beech, birch, sycamore and alder.

‘Our unique thing all along has been that we are the only ones doing it without chemicals,’ says Colin, left. ‘There’s no water in it so you don’t need lighter fuel and it burns so quickly you’re ready to cook in 15 minutes.

‘We had two fairly dreadful summers the first two years. Then again, if we had this summer on our first year, we wouldn’t have been able to cope. We are barely coping with demand.’