No mucking around as festival unveiled

A BUNCH of craft “pigs” fashioned by local schoolchildren helped unveil the programme of events for this year’s Waterford Festival of Food, expected to attract thousands of visitors to the south-east.

The Pig Fair in Walton Park in Dungarvan saw a team of judges, including RTÉ south-east correspondent Damien Tiernan, Sean Óg Duffy of Truly Irish Country Foods, sponsors of the fair, and local artist Danny Cunningham, select a crafty pig to be the festival mascot.

Now in its fourth year, the Dungarvan-based food festival runs from April 14 to 17 and sees the return of many popular events but also includes a Food Camp, Barbecue by the Quay and a Mind/Body/Spirit morning.

Michelin star chef Ross Lewis and Martin Shanahan from Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, a return visit from Richard Corrigan is planned, accompanied by British chef Mark Hix, and Paul Flynn of The Tannery are to attend.

A pre-festival event will take place on March 14, when local students will take to the stage in the Town Hall to cook up dishes, against the clock.

Other features include the Bus Bia making visits to producers through the west of the county; biscuit-baking for children and bread-making at the “old world” Barron’s Bakery; the AgriAware mobile farm at King John’s Castle and a Dish for the Déise competition for recipes that are part of Waterford’s heritage.