Chocolate makers are in ‘peak production’ across Ireland this easter, a report by Josh Crosbie has found.
He travelled to Lir Chocolates in Navan, County Meath to find out where Easter eggs come from and the work involved in making them.
The luxury chocolate makers have produced 1.2 million eggs this Easter and their Site Manager Jason Kenny said it’s been all hands on deck to get there.
Josh Crosbie getting stuck in at Lir Chocolates in Navan.“We can pack up to 1,000 eggs per hour here, maximum, and we do everything from start to finish,” he told Newstalk.
“Our chocolate is stored in large 24tn tanks and we ship it into our depositors and manufacture it from there onto our spinners and egg line, down to our cooling tunnel, and out the end where it is packed directly off the line.
“It’s a lot of eggs and they are going across Ireland, the UK, and Europe as well to be eaten by lots of happy children and adults.”
Ahead of the game
Lir Chocolate’s product development head Mary O’Rourke told Josh it’s important to stay ahead of the game.
“We’re always looking at different designs,” she said.
“Milk chocolate is very much the trend around Easter, then you have the blond chocolate, a caramelised white chocolate that is also very trendy.
“Next year I would say blond would be very trendy but it’s what you do with it, what you put and pair with it – our eggs are gorgeous and very intricate.”
Religious significance
Fr Vincent O’Hara, a priest in the Carmelite Church just off Grafton Street, said Good Friday is the most important event in the Catholic calendar.
“It is of course a very sacred day and everything is focused on the passion of Jesus,” he said.
“Most churches have their ceremonies at 3pm in the afternoon, which traditionally is the time Jesus died, the ninth hour, a pretty solemn occasion.
“Faith is a wonderful gift as we all need hope in life – it gives a lift to everyone and puts a spring in your step.”
Main image: Rows of Easter Eggs in a supermarket. Image: Stuart Black / Alamy Stock Photo
