Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Awareness Week taking place from 12 to 19 May

The campaign has been developed to promote better understanding of the disease which affects 1 in every 100 people in Ireland and will focus on diagnosis of the disease and events planned include a GF cooking masterclass with top chef Clodagh McKenna

Coeliac Awareness Week, a public awareness campaign to promote better awareness and understanding of coeliac disease and those affected by it, will take place from 12 to 19 May. The campaign is being hosted by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, the organisation which provides information, support and awareness to people throughout Ireland living with coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease affects 1 in every 100 people in Ireland and it is estimated that around 45,000 Irish people could be coeliac, many of which are, as yet, undiagnosed. The disease causes some adults and children to react to a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.

Gluten can be found in everyday foods like bread, biscuits, pasta, and beer as well as in many common dinner time dishes. Just a single grain of gluten can cause damage, resulting in diarrhoea, discomfort and other symptoms which can last for several days. There is NO known cure for coeliac disease and the only proven treatment is a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. Medicine or drugs are not required.

For each person diagnosed with coeliac disease, there are likely to be 5 to 10 people who remain un-diagnosed. As a result, Coeliac Awareness Week 2014 will focus heavily on diagnosis of the disease, particularly in children, and a number of events offering a wealth of information and advice on how to diagnose and live with coeliac disease will be taking place over the course of the week.

Well known chef Clodagh McKenna will also be supporting Coeliac Awareness Week by hosting a Gluten-Free cooking master-class at her restaurant Clodaghs Kitchen in Arnotts. The clean living cook will be preparing her favourite dishes for coeliac and gluten intolerant guests and offering advice on how to cook tasty meals for family members, friends or children who are coeliac.

Full details of events taking place during Coeliac Awareness Week, as well as any information you may need in relation to gluten free living, including recipes and tips, can be found at www.coeliac.ie.