West Waterford Festival of Food kicks off
Teddy Drohan from Abbeyside, pictured at Dungarvan Farmer’s Market
The West Waterford Festival of Food, one of Ireland’s largest and longest running food festivals, kicks off today 14 April.
The three-day festival will feature more than 70 events in the scenic harbour town of Dungarvan, along with nearby Lismore and throughout the West Waterford region and is a bucket list event for food lovers, food professionals, celebrity chefs, food bloggers, influencers, and festival goers alike.
Taking part in the programme are a number of celebrity chefs, some with their own cookery shows, slots on daytime tv and regular features both in print and on the airwaves. This provides the perfect opportunity for keen eyed festival attendees to spot some well-known faces over the festival weekend.
Among the most recognisable names from the small screen who you are likely to spot at his year’s festival are chef’s Paul Flynn, Martin Shanahan and Mark Moriarty, Eunice Power and Aisling Larkin.
Owner of the Tannery Restaurant and cookery school, Paul Flynn is renowned for cooking modern Irish food, is a cookery writer with the Irish Times and has 3 successful cookery books under his belt including ‘An Irish Adventure with Food’, ‘Second Helpings’ and ‘Surf and Turf’. Well known for his appearances on tv, he has helmed his own 8-part series ‘Paul Flynn’s Irish Food Adventures’ as well as appearing on IFTA nominated show Lords & Ladles on RTÉ One with Derry Clarke and Catherine Fulvio, and most recently Paul Flynn’s Food Truck Favourites.
Chef Martin Shanahan, owner of ‘Fishy Fishy’ in Kinsale, is well known for his programmes ‘Martin’s Mad About Fish and follow up series ‘Martin’s still Mad about Fish’ and for the ‘Surf and Turf’ series which all showcased his love of and skill with seafood cookery. He is a resident chef on the RTE Today Show hosted by Maura and Daithí and has several successful cookery books to his name.
Eunice Power is the festival director of the West Waterford Festival of Food as well as operating her own hugely successful food businesses. She famously catered for Graham Nortons wedding in West Cork last year and runs the award winning AndChips which was recently dubbed ‘Irish Takeaway of the Year’.
Chef Aisling Larkin wears many hats, she is a tv cook, food media broadcaster, educator, feeding therapist, mindful eating coach, keynote speaker, and food & wellness consultant as well as operating her own cookery school. Larkin will be giving a Teenager and Young Adult Food Workshop and Lámh cookery demo on the Saturday of the festival weekend, both taking place Walton Park Marquee.
Chef Mark Moriarty is an Irish Chef & TV Presenter ‘Off Duty Chef’ and ‘Beyond the Menu’ on RTE One. He is also a Diageo Global Brand Ambassador and produces recipes and content for M&S in Ireland.
Other award winning and renowned chefs taking part in the festival include Aishling Moore from Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded Goldie fish restaurant in Cork, Caitlin Ruth chef and owner of one of Ireland’s best food trucks, Jenny Flynn who is head chef at the renowned Faithlegg House in Waterford and Duncan Blair, head chef of family-owned award-winning gastropub Blair’s Inn in Cork.
Part of the charm of the West Waterford Festival of Food is how bespoke the festival experience can be. Whether you wander the stalls, dip into a food trail, or pop to an event, there is plenty to whet your appetite. Although many events have now sold out, there is still a chance to book a dining experience, music at the mart, chocolate masterclass or sustainability themed bus tour with some tickets still available to purchase online,
The West Waterford Festival of Food is funded by Waterford Council, Waterford Leader Partnership, Fáilte Ireland, and Waterford LEO and would not be possible without the support of sponsors, friends circle and the community.
Pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. For the full programme, more information, and tickets, see www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com/
