Treat your taste...
The hard working organising committee headed up by Sean Woodgate were delighted. It is estimated more than 20,000 people poured into Midleton over the weekend for a gastronomic experience extraordinaire to taste what became known as the Feast of the East.
The festival was sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey and Dart. The latter is an abbreviation for Developing Active regions of sustainable tourism, a project under the European Intemreg IIL programme - the Irish porters are E-CAD 1.
Spurred on by last year's success, a bigger and ever better festival is planned for this year. Retailers, hoteliers, publicans and entertainers are pooling their talents and resources to provide a memorable experience for all ages, - it will be a real family event. Lots of fun and amusements are planned for the children which will include face painting, mime, jugglers, acrobats, stilt walkers, balloon artists, puppet shows and circus workshops.
And in keeping with the theme there will be childrens' cooking classes in Midleton Park Hotel.
Great music from the Midleton Brass bands - a wonderful Irish rural tradition that we can be so proud of. Midleton Comhaltas and String Quartet will also be delighting the visitors.
This year there will be over 60 stalls selling everything from roast suckling pig to local and Thai band crafts. Midleton Farmers market will be out in force selling local food so bring a few large shopping bags so you can fill them brimful with delicious local food.
Midleton Food and Drinks Festival, Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4. For further details see www.eastcorktourism.com/midleton.
