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A SWEET STORY FROM CORK
Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/1217/1224309123114.html
Dec 17 2011
Our man in South SudanWeekly wisdomMade by an Armenian in the city
of Cork, Hadji Beys Turkish delight has a story that beggars belief,
writes MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBY
HADJI BEYS TURKISH DELIGHT, made in Cork city by an Armenian, Harutun
Batmazian, who arrived in the city in 1902 as an exile fleeing the
pogroms sweeping across the Ottoman empire, was once one of Ireland's
most successful exports, selling in Harrods of London and Macy's in
New York, and being supplied to Buckingham Palace.
The opulent pink and yellow boxes, embossed in silver, went back
on shop shelves last year when Newbridge confectionery maker Leo
Cummins re-established the brand, 40 years after Eddie Batmazian,
Harutun's son, closed the business in Cork.
Hadji Bey Milseain na Tuirce i gCorcaigh is a TG4 documentary directed
by RoseAnn Foley and presented by her sister Catherine Foley, which
tells the story of Batmazian and his exotic sweetmeats. It is being
screened tomorrow at 9.30pm (repeated on Wednesday at 11.30pm).
The film includes rarely viewed footage of Cork city in the early
1900s by filmmakers Mitchell Kenyon, with contributions from historian
and writer Diarmuid Ó Drisceol, TV presenter and producer Pat Butler,
writer Prof Alan Titley, and Pol Ruiseil of Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha,
the Centre for Oral Irish, at UCC.
Two of Batmazian's grandchildren, Dolores Cunningham and Derek
O'Sullivan, also feature, and describe the difficulties their
grandfather and his wife Esther had to overcome in their early years
in Cork.
Having fled persecution in their homeland, the couple were mistakenly
identified as Turks by soldiers returning from the first World War,
and their shop on Lower Glanmire Road was burned down. When they
reopened on McCurtain Street, Batmazian had a legal document drawn up,
called Live and Let Live, which he hoped would explain his heritage
and protect his business. In the event, his superior confectionery,
made with ingredients imported from all over the world, spoke for
itself, and became a firm favourite in Ireland and beyond.
Hadji Bey: Milseain na Tuirce i gCorcaigh is on TG4 tomorrow at 9.30pm
and repeated Wednesday, December 21st, 11.30pm
Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/1217/1224309123114.html
Dec 17 2011
Our man in South SudanWeekly wisdomMade by an Armenian in the city
of Cork, Hadji Beys Turkish delight has a story that beggars belief,
writes MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBY
HADJI BEYS TURKISH DELIGHT, made in Cork city by an Armenian, Harutun
Batmazian, who arrived in the city in 1902 as an exile fleeing the
pogroms sweeping across the Ottoman empire, was once one of Ireland's
most successful exports, selling in Harrods of London and Macy's in
New York, and being supplied to Buckingham Palace.
The opulent pink and yellow boxes, embossed in silver, went back
on shop shelves last year when Newbridge confectionery maker Leo
Cummins re-established the brand, 40 years after Eddie Batmazian,
Harutun's son, closed the business in Cork.
Hadji Bey Milseain na Tuirce i gCorcaigh is a TG4 documentary directed
by RoseAnn Foley and presented by her sister Catherine Foley, which
tells the story of Batmazian and his exotic sweetmeats. It is being
screened tomorrow at 9.30pm (repeated on Wednesday at 11.30pm).
The film includes rarely viewed footage of Cork city in the early
1900s by filmmakers Mitchell Kenyon, with contributions from historian
and writer Diarmuid Ó Drisceol, TV presenter and producer Pat Butler,
writer Prof Alan Titley, and Pol Ruiseil of Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha,
the Centre for Oral Irish, at UCC.
Two of Batmazian's grandchildren, Dolores Cunningham and Derek
O'Sullivan, also feature, and describe the difficulties their
grandfather and his wife Esther had to overcome in their early years
in Cork.
Having fled persecution in their homeland, the couple were mistakenly
identified as Turks by soldiers returning from the first World War,
and their shop on Lower Glanmire Road was burned down. When they
reopened on McCurtain Street, Batmazian had a legal document drawn up,
called Live and Let Live, which he hoped would explain his heritage
and protect his business. In the event, his superior confectionery,
made with ingredients imported from all over the world, spoke for
itself, and became a firm favourite in Ireland and beyond.
Hadji Bey: Milseain na Tuirce i gCorcaigh is on TG4 tomorrow at 9.30pm
and repeated Wednesday, December 21st, 11.30pm