10th ANNUAL WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY FAIR
28 September 2003

The tenth annual World Vegetarian Day Fair was held on Sunday 28th September, and coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Vegetarian Society of Ireland. With this in mind, the Organising Committee decided that the day should be an extra special celebration of Vegetarianism. Certainly, the day came around in the usual flurry of organisation, but with an extra publicity angle, which definitely paid off.

As in recent years, the Fair was held at St. Andrew’s Resource Centre, in Dublin, and was organised by the VSI Committee. The event was promoted nationwide, with special articles and plugs in various national newspapers and magazine publications as well as radio and television interviews. Also, an exciting promotional cookery demonstration was broadcast on morning television. (Morning Ireland, on TV3).

The day itself was a fine and sunny - as one visitor at the Fair suggested “more like June than the end of September”. Through the length of the day, the Fair welcomed hundreds of interested and curious punters.

The Stands
The Talks
The Raffle
The Sponsors
Volunteers
Photographs

Stall holders

The types of stalls at the Fair were very varied - an important part of hosting a successful World Vegetarian Day Fair. An informative range of animal-welfare and animal-rights organisations and charities were present: Compassion in World Farming, Alliance for Animal Rights, Hunt Saboteurs, Seal Sanctuary, Cats’ Aid, Irish Anti-Vivisection Society and this year, the VSI was were delighted to welcome the Vegan Society UK and Vegetarian Society UK. Of course, the Vegetarian Society of Ireland hosted an information stand also.

Each year, we reaffirm our belief that this annual Fair offers an important platform to Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, Vegetarian and Vegan organisations, to inform people of their hard work and commitment to their beliefs and to attract new members.

Several groups with an interest in environmental issues were welcomed at the Fair also: Ecobaby, Sonairte—the National Ecology Centre, Dublin Cycling Campaign, Irish Women’s Environmental Network and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Group UK.

Of course, another important part of a good day out, is the prospect of a hearty meal, and that was certainly be guaranteed by the presence of our Vegetarian Restaurant visitors! This year we were delighted to welcome Blazing Salads, Cornucopia, Govinda’s, Fresh and the Cosy Café – the range and quality of hot and cold (as well as sweet and savoury) prepared foods available was really great. Add to this our Organic Food and Drinks section: Denis Healy’s fresh fruits and vegetables, the Dublin Food Co-op Food Stall, Organic Wines, the wares of Ireland’s Vegan Chocolate company The Cocoa Bean, and several groups selling delicious relishes, chutneys and preserves (including Buddha’s Baby and Relish Foods) you can see the variety on hand, to whet everyone’s appetites. In recent years, we have been pleased to welcome small but upcoming companies with vegetarian interests, from all parts of Ireland.

Talks

A wide range of talks was scheduled for throughout the day. The schedule started with a video presentation entitled ‘Not in My Name’ which shows clips of modern-day famous vegetarians discussing their belief in vegetarianism. Tracy Culleton gave a valuable talk with a deceptively simple title ‘Why be Vegetarian’, while Ms Tina Fox, the Chief Executive of the Vegetarian Society UK, spoke about positive marketing of vegetarianism in a talk entitled ‘Smiling our Way to Success’.

Promoting vegetarianism through sport was discussed in a talk by Peter Simpson of the UK Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club while Ita West took a yet another important angle in her presentation: ‘Vegetarianism and the Environment’. Dr Stephen Walsh discussed plant based nutrition and health and how the correct food choices can open up the prospect of a longer and healthier life. The talks were topped off by a very well attended and successful Cookery demonstration given by Tracy Culleton.

The Grand Raffle

Once again, the ‘Grand Raffle’ seemed to become a little grander! - and once again, this is thanks (in no small part) to the very generous donations of our friends in the Vegetarian/Vegan B&Bs and Hostelries around the country (Clady View B&B, Co Donegal, Cussens Cottage, Co. Limerick; The Phoenix Hostel, Co. Kerry, Shiplake Hostel, Co. Cork and Greenlodge, Co. Cork. Many thanks to Chrysalis Holistic Centre, Co. Wicklow, who donated a Workshop voucher for a vegetarian cookery course and to the Dublin Food Co-op, who donated a generous shopping voucher and one year’s free membership. We must also pay a big thank you to Easons (for all the great Veggie and Vegan Cookbooks). During the event, ‘Raffle Fever’ grows steadily, culminating a big crowd of eager punters gathering to hear winning ticket numbers and hoping to win a prize.

Sponsorship

Once again, we must also wholeheartedly thank the Sponsors who help so much by contributing to the running of the event: Down to Earth Health Store, The Health Store Dublin, Clayton Love Distribution, Munster Wholefoods, Wholefoods Wholesale, The General HealthFood Store and Klee Paper.

Volunteers

Last, but not least, many thanks go to all the people who kindly volunteered their services coming up to the event and throughout the day itself, making jobs such as setting up the hall, the clean-up afterwards, raffle ticket sales and door-duty that bit easier.

Here’s looking forward to the 11th Annual Fair next October!