Temperatures to soar as chefs cook up BBQ feast

As revellers act the goat in Killorglin for the next few days, Kerry folk in the north of the county are today beginning to prepare for a huge barbecue feast — of rump steak, pig on a spit along with lamb, chicken, goat, pheasant and fresh fish.

Kerry native John Relihan, a senior sous chef at Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa restaurant in London, has brought 45 BBQ chefs from around the world to his home village of Duagh, near Listowel, for the unique event.

All the money raised over the weekend will go to the restoration of the village’s church bell tower.

A close friend of his boss Jamie Oliver, he said the festival is going to be something special.

Top local produce is being supplied by some of the country’s leading food brands and the entertainment, commencing today at 1pm, includes cooking demos, competitions, live music and delicious barbecue food all weekend.

John and his team will be cooking for a full 24 hours over the two days to feed over 1,000 people through the weekend. The top chefs will make use of two custom-built barbecue trailers, a seven-foot brick barbecue pit and a traditional Maori cooking pit. For more see duaghfestival.com.

Meanwhile, in Killorglin, the ritual 60ft hoisting and caging, for three days, of a wild mountain goat gets under way tomorrow.

Puck Fair, one of Ireland’s oldest celebrations, continues until Tuesday with lots of entertainment, including open-air concerts, street stalls and a famed horse fair.

And in west Kerry, the three-day Dingle Races got under way at the Ballintaggart horse track last evening.

Meanwhile, in Cork City, the end is in sight tomorrow for 120 charity cyclists who left Waterford on Thursday for a gruelling 640km challenge in the Tour de Munster.

Former cycling hero Sean Kelly is with the group as they complete the 14th annual tour, of all six Munster counties, on St Patrick’s Hill in Cork tomorrow afternoon, between 4.30 and 5.15pm.

However, organisers are expecting supporters to line the route long before the arrival of the cyclists — whose fundraising efforts will aid Down Syndrome Ireland.

Meanwhile, Breakthrough Cancer Research will benefit from an inaugural Women on Water day at Baltimore in west Cork.

The event, on both land and sea, takes place on Tuesday and anyone who wants to participate or support the worthy cause can register or collect sponsorship cards over the weekend at Baltimore Sailing Club.

The event will see women take to the water in all sorts of craft and boat classes, competing to win coveted prizes and raising funds through their entrance fee.