Clonakilty in West Cork has become the second Irish town to declare itself “fluoride-free”.
Seven local businesses — Fernhill House Hotel, The Lettercollum Kitchen Project, The Winery, Betty Brosnans, Coffee Mezzo, Jagged Edge and The Sticky Bun — have all installed reverse osmosis water filtration systems to assure their customers that all food and beverage products prepared on site are fluoride-free.
Con McLoughlin and Karen Austin run The Lettercollum Kitchen Project and are well-known in West Cork food circles for their organic produce.
“We appreciate the work that the Fluoride Free team have done to highlight the campaign for a fluoride-free Ireland which will improve the quality of water for everyone,” they said.
“We have our own well water in Timoleague, so we have always noticed a big difference with the town water. The filter system now means that we don’t have to cart our water in and out of town to drink and can make food with clean water and enjoy a tastier chemical-free coffee.”
Anne Cullinane, the Clonakilty Fluoride Free initiative co-ordinator and the town’s deputy mayor said she was delighted that the people of Clonakilty backed this initiative.
“Like Bantry did earlier this year, we are claiming fluoride-free status and I would like to thank my fellow town councillors who all support the idea,” she said.
This move by Clonakilty comes just a few months after Bantry acquired fluoride-free status and Cork County Council’s unanimous anti-fluoride motion was passed.
Fluoride-free status is achieved through a minimum of six businesses in a town having reverse osmosis fluoride filtration installed.