Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and Patrick Bewley at Bewley’s Café Grafton Street for the launch of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice.

The Hospice movement has launched a special appeal to the public to support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, sponsored by Bewley’s, next month (September) as hospice providers are facing ever more serious challenges in providing services to patients and their families, and patients endure inequality in the provision of hospice services throughout the country.

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, launched at Bewley’s Café Grafton Street today by Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and Patrick Bewley, is an all-island fundraising event, which raises vital funds for local hospice care services all over Ireland. Now in its seventeenth year, Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2010 will take place on Thursday 16th September 2010 and the target is to raise €2 million – that’s 1 million cups of Bewley’s coffee!

People in workplaces, homes and local organisations across Ireland are being asked to hold a coffee morning and to collect €2 for each cup of Bewley’s fresh ground coffee consumed. All money raised locally stays locally and goes directly back to fund local Hospice care services.

Hospice or palliative care involves the total care of patients and their families at the stage in a serious illness, where the focus has switched from treatment aimed at cure to ensuring quality of life. Almost 30,000 people die annually in Ireland and more than 6,000 people use hospice services every year. Up to 13,000 patients will require access to hospice and specialist palliative care by 2016.

International studies show that patients using hospice services consume at least 25% fewer medical resources than those who access “usual care.” This saving is linked to the fact that hospice patients are largely cared for and die at home and they use much less acute hospital services. Hospice patients also live longer and in greater comfort and dignity.

There is a spectacular inequality of provision in hospice services throughout the country, with the south east, midlands and north east faring worst. For example, the expenditure in the midlands where there are no hospice beds is €7 per capita, compared to €33 in the Mid West.

Eugene Murray, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation said: “Clearly resources are not being allocated based on objective need. We believe that hospice and palliative care services should be available to everyone who needs them. The entry ticket should not depend on whether a person has a particular illness, or on their geographical location.

“The HSE has published a five-year plan providing for 200 new beds in single rooms. We believe that this can be achieved within the HSE’s own re-configuration programme. There are almost 40,000 state funded acute and long term care beds. Most of these are occupied by patients who are near end of life and would prefer to be in the care of a palliative care service. This aims to move the balance of care from acute to primary and community care.

The Hospice movement in Ireland appeals to the public to continue their generosity this year and support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning. This will help ensure that vulnerable families in local communities enjoy a quality end-of-life service.”

Patrick Bewley of Bewley’s said: “We’re delighted to be involved with Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, celebrating its seventeenth year in 2010. As in previous years, over a million cups of Bewley’s coffee will be served on this special day in September. We want as many people as possible to take part all over Ireland. The more cups of coffee that we can give away, the greater the benefit that will be achieved for hospices and communities all over Ireland.”

Anyone can host a coffee morning and Bewley’s provides the fresh ground coffee free of charge. Registration advice and details on how to get your special complimentary Bewley’s fresh ground coffee pack can be obtained by contacting your local hospice group or by calling the Irish Hospice Foundation on (01) 679 3188.

Host your own Coffee Morning.

If you plan to host a Coffee Morning you can make use of our convenient Online Coffee Morning Invitation Form to invite family, friends and colleagues.

Bananas On The Breadboard - Stories from the markets area Dublin

Bewley’s Café Grafton Street, Ireland’s oldest and most famous café will celebrate Dublin’s vibrant heritage by holding two free events to mark National Heritage Week, which takes place from Saturday the 21st to Sunday the 29th of August 2010.

Bewley’s Café Grafton Street is a unique landmark in Dublin and has played an essential part in the literary, cultural, artistic, architectural and social life of Dublin since it opened in 1927.

On Tuesday the 24th August famous historian Pat Liddy will regale his audience with a vivid history of the heritage of Dublin. Historical sites from across the city will be brought to life by one of Ireland’s most prominent historians and artists. Mr. Liddy will give a unique insight into the evolution of the city which he has spent most of his life researching.

Pat Liddy

On Thursday 26th August Dublin filmmaker Joe Lee will introduce people to his touching documentary, “Bananas on the Breadboard” on Thursday 26th August. The documentary celebrates the life and traditions of women street traders from the markets area in Dublin and tells the stories of those who toiled in the fruit and vegetable market, the former fish market and Smithfield.

To attend either of these events telephone 01 703 8616 or email bewleys.ireland@gmail.com

Pictured in Bewley’s Grafton Street Café are Barista Alessandro Dearte and Caron McMahon, Bewley’s with some of the winning products.

Among the award winners were Bewley’s Fairtrade Harmony Blend, the only espresso blend from the UK and Ireland to win three gold stars, and Bewley’s Special Blend Fairtrade Tea and Earl Grey Loose Tea, which both received two gold stars. Bewley’s Original Blend, Gold Blend, Irish Afternoon, Decaffeinated Blend and Irish Afternoon Loose Tea all received one gold star each. Bewley’s famous Café Blend coffee and Special Reserve Signature Espresso were also awarded a gold medal each.

The Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Foods, are the acknowledged benchmark for speciality food and drink. They have been described as “the Oscars” of the food world and the “epicurean equivalent of the Booker Prize.”

All products are judged by at least three different judging panels. All the tasting is blind and the judges are fine food retailers, chefs, restaurant critics, food writers and other industry experts.

Pictured in Bewley’s Grafton Street Café are Barista Libby Harkey and Noel-John McLoughlin, Marketing Manager, Bewley’s

Over 1,300 companies entered the Great Taste Awards 2010, submitting over 6,000 products.

Paul O’Toole, Bewley’s Master Roaster, commented, “We are delighted that for the third year in a row, Bewley’s have won more Great Taste Awards for our coffees and teas than any other Irish company. This record number of awards is testament to our strong tradition in both tea and coffee.

“The Great Taste Awards are one of the major international authorities on food and drink. The eleven gold medals confirm what Irish consumers have known for generations, that Bewley’s products are of the highest quality.

“We are unique among Irish tea producers as the four Bewley’s teabag varieties currently available in Irish supermarkets, Original Blend, Gold Blend, Special Blend and Decaf Blend all won gold!”

“The current rise in coffee prices on global commodity markets is due to speculative trading in coffee futures. Coupled with a possible shortage in global coffee supplies, it seems likely that these rising price levels will be sustained. This is against a backdrop where coffee prices on the high street have remained relatively stable since 2008,” Bewley’s Master Roaster Paul O’Toole said today (Tuesday 6th July, 2010).

Paul outlined the situation to Newstalk’s Business Correspondent Conor Brophy. Listen to the interview below.

Alternatively, download Paul O’Toole’s Newstalk interview.

Paul commented that the recent rally in coffee prices has caught a lot of people by surprise. “The main reason for coffee markets firming up over the past two weeks is technical in that it’s to do with speculative commodity trading,” said Paul. “However, there is also the possibility of a coffee supply shortage.”

“In June, coffee futures on the New York Coffee Exchange (the ‘C’) reached their highest level in two years. But they are also as high as they have been for twelve years. We’ve seen about a 25% spike in coffee prices since the start of June.”

“At Bewley’s we are conscious of the economic pressures that exist and we will do everything we can to hold off on price increases and to minimise the extent of any price increases that arise. That being said, we buy the very best of coffees, we won’t compromise on that and the price of those high quality coffees has substantially increased recently.”

“It does seem inevitable that, as forward coffee contracts run out, the coffee trade and consumers may experience price increases towards the end of the year or early in 2011. We hope that conditions will stabilise, but if the current upward trend continues then you could be looking generally at high street increases of around 3 to 5 cents per coffee.”

1st July 2010: Patrick Bewley has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) as part of the Awards for Coffee Excellence, which took place last week at the Caffe Culture trade exhibition in London.

Patrick Bewley accepting the SCAE's 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Crypt at St Etheldreda's, London, on 23 June (Photo by Charles Prager)

Patrick Bewley, whose great grandfather Charles established Ireland’s leading coffee company Bewley’s in 1840, is a former executive director and Past President of the SCAE. He was commended for his role in promoting quality coffee and for developing the work of the SCAE, which seeks to raise awareness and appreciation of speciality coffee through education, training and business resources.

Nils Erichsen, President of the SCAE presented the award, “The Lifetime Achievement award is presented to a person that has furthered the interests of the industry by promoting the concept of quality coffee in a distinguished manner. Patrick Bewley is widely recognised for his experience and knowledge of the coffee trade, and for his stellar efforts in promoting quality coffee, both through Bewley’s and also through his involvement with the SCAE for many years. We are delighted to salute his commitment to coffee with this award.”

The annual Awards are nominated by SCAE members and chosen by an international panel of coffee experts. Approximately 100 guests attended the special awards evening at London’s ancient and atmospheric Crypt of St. Etheldreda’s at Ely Place, a wonderful 600 year old site with rough stone walls and heavy blackened beams dating from the 12th Century.

Paddy Campbell invites you to peek inside his Small World exhibition of fantastic sculptures.

6 scenarios depicting scenes from everyday life.

“Small World highlights my interest in contemporary real life sculpture where the viewer can empathise directly with the piece they are looking at…peeping through a bathroom window, watching the world go by on a beach, or finding an open living-room door with a party in full swing inside. A glamorous catwalk beckons us to explore behind the scenes where preening models can be caught unawares… While, through the window of a night-train we can glimpse a moment in the life journey of each passenger… There’s even a “Small World” Café (Bewley’s of course!) where love stories begin, and end, as we watch, and coffee gossipers mix with mothers relating stories of bye-gone treats with grandmothers.”

Paddy Campbell

Find out more about the artist at www.PaddyCampbell.ie

SMALL WORLD – Footage from the launch evening as Bewley’s Café hosts a fascinating exhibition of works by sculptor Paddy Campbell (throughout July from 11 am – 6.00 pm daily). Entitled “Small World” there are six scenarios featuring 80 life-like Lilliputian figures hand-made by Campbell and dressed in contemporary style. Each realistic set depicts a scene from our everyday lives and each piece is an original. Admission free.

SMALL WORLD – Newstalk’s Tom Dunne interviews sculptor Paddy Campbell as Bewley’s Café hosts a fascinating exhibition of Campbell’s works (throughout July from 11 am – 6.00 pm daily, admission free). Entitled “Small World” there are six scenarios featuring 80 life-like Lilliputian figures hand-made by Campbell and dressed in contemporary style. Each realistic set depicts a scene from our everyday lives and each piece is an original. This sound clip includes pictures of the exhibition.

SMALL WORLD – City Channel’s David Harvey interviews sculptor Paddy Campbell in studio as Dublin’s most famous coffee house Bewley’s Café hosts a fascinating exhibition of Campbell’s works (July 2010). Entitled “Small World” there are six scenarios featuring 80 life-like Lilliputian figures hand-made by Campbell and dressed in contemporary style. Each realistic set depicts a scene from our everyday lives and each piece is an original.

Take your snapshot of Small World and enter our competition to win a prize.

Like moments in time, a picture can tell a thousand words…

Use your camera or phone to take a snapshot of your favourite scenario, in the Small World Exhibition, post it on our wall on Facebook, send it to us by Twitter or Gmail, and you’ll be in with a chance to win one of ten €50 vouchers to enjoy yourself at Bewley’s Café.

	www.Facebook.com/BewleysIreland
	www.Twitter.com/BewleysIreland
	SmallWorldExhibition@Gmail.com

It was great to meet Kenyan Ambassador Catherine Muigai Mwangi who visited us at Bewley’s just as we received our latest batch of Kenyan tea (direct from the lush pastures of the Rift Valley). Bewley’s Gold Blend tea combines Kenyan, Assam and Rwandan tea.

Kenyan Ambassador Catherine Muigai Mwangi is pictured with Bewley’s Managing Director Jim Corbett

We may be Ireland’s leading fresh coffee company but we’ve also been a leading Irish tea maker since 1835 when we first imported tea from China to Dublin, and we still blend our teas here in Dublin today. Ambassador Mwangi is pictured with Jim Corbett of Bewley’s. You can find our teas in supermarkets nationwide or at our online store through www.bewleys.com.