Food festival to give €1m economic boost to south-east
Kicking off tomorrow, the festival takes place in Dungarvan and includes Ireland’s second ever Food Camp over the course of the weekend.
Now in its fourth year, the festival weekend is expected to attract thousands of visitors with local accommodation providers already noticing an increase in bookings because of the event, according to director Therese McDermott.
She said all the indications are the number of visitors to the festival this year will surpass previous years.
“This will provide a welcome boost to the local economy and for our local food producers,” Ms McDermott said. “This is very welcome in the current climate both economically and from a morale point of view. It is very difficult to put a figure on the overall benefit but last year it was estimated that the boost was in the region of €1m.”
The festival is geared towards families with a host of free and ticketed events.
Tomorrow’s opening day will feature a Food Camp in St John’s Castle with leading players from the food world due to take part including Ella McSweeney of Ear to the Ground on RTÉ and Earnán Ó Cleirigh of the OECD who will speak on food security.
Chaired by Peter Ward of the famous Country Choice fooderie in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, the discussion will also see contributions from the likes of economist Jim Power — one of the founders of Love Irish Food — and author and blogger Niamh Shields from www.eatlikeagirl.com.
The topic for discussion will be “from field to fork — getting artisan products to market”.
The official launch will include a parade of pigs, of the artistic variety thanks to the craft work of local clubs, with children from schools across Dungarvan taking part.
A host of events have been added to the festival programme this year and many of them are free. There’s a range of cookery demonstrations from the ‘cook against the clock variety’, to family cooking on a budget to well known chefs whipping up their favourite dishes.
Other highlights include a barbecue by the sea; a community walk; a mobile farm at King John’s Castle; an open-air mind/body/soul event in Walton Park and a farmers’ market on Sunday.
“Food is best enjoyed in the greatest of company and we’ve loads in our four day plan for all the family to enjoy in the company of their friends, neighbours and relations,” Ms McDermott said.
* waterfordfestivaloffood.com
