Colm Connolly, a fifth generation farmer from Clones, Co Monaghan, has launched Rucksnacks, a dried beef snack that promises 16 grams of protein per serving.

Connolly (pictured) grew up on the family farm and worked as a mechanical engineer before adventure came calling. In 2014, Colm (29) and his girlfriend quit their jobs and for seven months explored North and South America, New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Middle East experiencing the scenery, the cultures and the exciting food.

“Travelling was an amazing experience but I always knew I’d come home here to the farm and live in Ireland where I have always enjoyed farming and continue on what has been a family tradition,” says Connolly.

"I am very much into fitness and health. So I was really frustrated on my return to Ireland to find a lack of healthy, convenient snacks. That’s when I got the idea for Rucksnacks, a beef jerky snack with only 89 calories per serving. With no added sugar, no gluten and no allergens, it is quality Irish food that ticks a lot of health boxes as a lean protein snack.”

According to the founder, Beef Jerky is made with beef. However, originally when discovered in South America in the 1500s, it was made by the Peruvian native tribe of Quechua, a part of the Inca empire, using alpaca and llama meat. It was called ch’arki. Spanish Conquistadors changed the name to Chirqui, which means ‘to burn meat’. The conquistadors saw the value of this type of preservation of meats as it made them portable and kept them from spoiling on their expeditions.  Soon the Charqui spread throughout the world.

In Association with

Rucksnacks will be on sale in select SuperValu stores across Monaghan and Louth from mid-September. At the Rucksnacks website, eight 30g bags are sold for €20.