Boxty makers hoping to achieve the same status as champagne and Parma ham

Boxty could have something in common with champagne and Parma ham if plans to win a coveted EU designation are successful.

Independent MEP Marian Harkin brought boxty makers from the Border region and the west together in Cavan last night to look at how the potato product could win the EU's protected geographical indication (PGI) status.

If they are successful, the name “boxty” will only be given to product made in a specific region, using a particular production process.

Champagne and Parma ham are some of the best- known products with PGI status, but more than 1,000 agricultural products have been registered by the EU as PGI or, a related status known as protected designation of origin (PDO) status.

The Waterford blaa bread recently won PGI status, joining products such as Timoleague brown pudding, Clare Island salmon and Connemara hill lamb. Imokilly regato cheese has PDO status.

Ms Harkin said she was keen to see boxty producers exploring the possibility of gaining this status because boxty was so closely associated with Border counties.

Boxty, a traditional grated potato pancake, is most closely associated with Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh, but is also a popular dish in northwestern and western counties. Recipes vary, with some aficionados preferring to fry the potato and flour mixture on the pan, while others bake boxty in the oven.

Some boxty makers have also been known to shape the mixture into dumplings and boil them. Getting boxty makers to agree on a production process will be one of the first challenges facing the group.