The historic North Kerry town of Listowel long famed for its literary geniuses and culinary delights will once again come alive for the 2018 Listowel Food Fair -Ireland’s longest running food festival which celebrates its 24th consecutive fair this year from Thursday 8th-Monday 12th November 2018.
Listowel is “Ireland’s Tidiest Town” for 2018 and it will be a food lovers destination this weekend as a host of exciting events are lined up for the festival, which was officially launched this evening by Colette Twomey, Managing Director of Clonakilty Black Pudding.
Festival highlights include the opening “Celebrity Cooking Demonstration” hosted by Virgin Media One, Weekend AM’s Lizzy Lyons and Simon Delaney, who cooked up a storm with a “Celebration of the food of North Kerry” at the Listowel Arms Hotel this evening.
The “Bord Bía Schools Competition & Food Academy” is an educational and awareness programme that has grown to become a headline event in the festival programme. This programme engages senior (transition year and 5th year) and junior students in over fifty secondary schools in Munster, highlighting the importance of the Bord Bía Quality Mark, its meaning and significant role in the Irish food sector. This initiative is managed on behalf of the Listowel Food Fair by Mairead Moriarty, Home Economist and is an important part of the festival.
Health is a big focus for the festival this year with two new events sponsored by Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership. Catherine McKiernan, a silver medalist in the World Cross Country Championship 1994 and a winner of the London Marathon in 1998 will host a “Seminar on correct running technique”. Catherine McKiernan will also lead a morning run on Saturday 10th November 2018 in Listowel Park which is a free event, finished off with a warming brew and protein ball from Kettle & Cup. Former Miss Universe Ireland Aoife Hannon, MSC Physiotherapy and Pilates Instructor will host a class showcasing the benefits of pilates for runners. Both events take place at the Listowel Community Centre on Friday 9th November 2018 from 7.30pm – 9pm.
Following the success of the global “Pink October” initiative, a Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop will be held in St. John’s Theatre in association with Breast Cancer Ireland in the format of an informative talk / workshop, covering cancer prevention, breast screening and breast awareness.
This year’s Listowel Food Fair Business Seminar – “The Role of Technology in Food Production and Innovation” will feature a host of guest speakers including Colette Twomey, MD of Clonakilty Black Pudding, Noel Carr, MD Diomac, Kerry Technology Park, Noelle Watts, Chief Information Officer Ornua, Panal-Cal Flynn, Manager of R&D, Kerry Group and John O’Connor, MD of Prestige Foods. This event will take place at The Seanchaí Centre, The Square, Listowel on Friday 9th November 2018 at 11am.
The prestigious 2018 Listowel Food Fair “Food Grammy’s” Night at the Listowel Arms Hotel on Saturday 10th November 2018 features presentations of the annual festival awards during an 8 Course Tasting Menu. The menu is specially created to feature this year’s winning products of both competitions, the LEO (Local Enterprise Office) Best Emerging Artisan Food product and the winners of the “National Kerrygold Cheese Competition”.
With something for all ages and tastes, weekend events this year include a Baking Workshop with Cookarama, an international flavor with special events “Taste of Lithuania” and “Taste of Armenia”, Nourish by Nature Workshop, Vegan and Vegetarian Masterclass, Street Food Fest in the Square and a host of Coffee Mornings on each day of the festival.
The very popular “Craft & Food Fair Food Hall” on Sunday 11th November 2018 at the Listowel Arms Hotel will feature a broad selection of local craft, design and artisan food producers, cakes, craft beers, mulled wine, gifts, gourmet food, jewellery, art, chocolate, jams, chutneys and breads.
The Listowel Food Fair Farmers Market, Afternoon Tea in John R’s and Allo’s, Oyster Tastings at Catch of the Day and Garvey’s Supervalu all add to a fun filled and jam packed festival schedule. For night owls the festival offers a host of exciting evening events such as the Tamworth Pork in John B’s Bar, Pig & Porter Night in Christy’s Kitchen, A Wine Goose Chase in Lizzy’s Little Kitchen and Live Jazz Lunch to finish at the Listowel Arms Hotel.
On Monday 12th November 2018 the annual Farming Seminar “Challenges & Opportunities” will be addressed by Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on current issues within the farming and agricultural sector.
Information on the 2018 Listowel Food Fair festival is available at www.listowelfoodfair.ie . Tickets can be purchased atwww.eventbrite.ie
The Listowel Food Fair Committee would like to thank the various sponsors and festival partners for whom without their support, this event would not be possible each year – An Bord Bía, BIM -Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Ornua –The Home of Irish Dairy, Teagasc, Kerry Group, Kerry Local Enterprise Office, Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership, Garvey’s Supervalu, Dairy Master, Tipperary Crystal, Jameson Irish Whiskey, O’Brien’s Wines and JJ Galvin Wines.
Image:
Simon Delaney and Lizzy Lyons headline the opening “Celebrity Cooking Demonstration” at the 2018 Listowel Food Fair last night in the Listowel Arms Hotel.
Steve Kelly Photography – www.stevekellyphotography.ie / Mob: 087-2013975 / E: stevekellyphotography@hotmail.com