Celebrating local Irish food :
West Waterford Festival of Food takes place at the end of April and kicks off the start of the food festival extravaganza in Ireland. The growing season is well underway, the days are long and pleasant – it’s the perfect time to mingle with friends and neighbours to celebrate local, fresh and seasonal food.
Here’s a selected list of some of the best food festivals and other foodie events taking place in Ireland during the month of May:
Connemara Mussel Festival
- May 3, 2019
- Connemara
- Originally established to promote the excellence of the mussels of Killary Harbour, Connemara Mussel Festival has grown to become a celebration of local people, food, culture and heritage. This is the 14th year the festival has been held. Connemara Mussel Festival is recognised as the premier food event for Connemara attracting visitors from near and far. One of the first festivals each year on the Wild Atlantic Way, it showcases the very best Connemara has to offer. A true Feast for the Senses: TASTE and SMELL beautifully cooked local produce; SEE unparalleled views of the Connemara land and seascape; HEAR sounds of music, dancing, talks and theatre; FEEL the ambience; and above all ENJOY the experience!
Woolapalooza Farm Festival
- May 5 & 6, 2019
- Dundrum, Dublin 14
- Enjoy Ireland’s most unique suburban farming and heritage festival. With something for all the family including walks, talks, fun and games, craft, farming and, of course, great food!
Callan Street Feast
- May 5, 2019
- Callen, Co. Kilkenny
- All are welcome to a community street feast in the town of Callan, Kilkenny. Bring your favourite dish to share with your friends and neighbours and make new friends and catch up with old ones through sharing food and laughs! Fennelly’s of Callan will open their double doors on Bridge Street to provide access to their flowering courtyard and will provide tables, chairs and toilet facilities, everything else will be brought by all of us! So spread the word, Sunday the 5th of May 1pm -3pm .
The Great Food Debate
- May 5, 2019, 19:30 – 21:00
- National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9
- We are what we eat. Not only do our bodies reflect what we eat but increasingly we are realising the myriad of ways that what we put on our plates impacts on the world around us. Should we eat a vegetarian or vegan diet only? If we eat more organic meat and vegetables will this have any major impact? Join the conversation with vegan and vegetarian food producers including Deidre McCafferty of Cornucopia Restaurant and Christy Stapleton of the Green Door Market, well-known organic vegetable grower. Free entry, Booking essential.
Burren Slow Food Festival
- May 10-12, 2019:
- Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare
- The festival is taking place in the Pavilion in Lisdoonvarna but will kick off on the Friday night with a trip to the smallest of the Aran Island where a seafood dinner will be waiting for the participants. Enjoy three days of fabulous foodie experiences where you can: soak up knowledge during the talks and cookery demos; get to know small producers and their products; Taste wonderful samples of what the sea and the Irish soil have to offer. This year’s festival motto is “Taste the Atlantic – Seaweed”.
The Great National Vegetarian Week Banquet
- May 18, 2019, 19:30 – 23:30
- Navan, Co. Meath
- The Cross Guns Gastropub will showcase the best of vegetarian food and vegan drink that is grown and produced in the Boyne Valley Region by both local producers and Mother Nature herself. Combine this with beautiful Banquet Surroundings, Culinary Skills and live musical entertainment to transform the Cinderella of the plate into the Princess of the foods. 100% Vegetarian Live music will keep you entertained throughout the night. All is included in the €35 entry fee.
