Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2018

Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2018 kicks off on 7th September and continues for  10 days until the 16th. This makes it one of the longest food festivals in the country and it is recognized as one of the best also. The Restaurant Association of Ireland called it Ireland’s number one foodie destination in 2017.  Not only is it the the best but it is also the biggest with numerous towns, restaurants, producers, chefs and visitors participating.

Celebrity Chefs

Here is our pick of the chefs which we would like to see during the week.
Kevin Ahern owner of Sage Restaurant in Middleton is cooking at Dunmore House Hotel on 13 September.
Rachel Allen well known TV chef who teaches at Ballymaloe house will cook at the Beara Coast hotel in Castletownbere on 12 September.
Derry Clark of Michelin star L’Ecrivain restaurant in Dublin is cooking at the Islanders Rest Sherkin Island on 8th September.
The Argentinian chef Florencio Fons is cooking at Mary Ann’s is Bar & Restaurant, Castletownshend on Friday, 7 September.
Martin Shanahan TV chef and owner of Fishy Fishy in Kinsale is giving the cooking demonstration at Field’s of Skibbereen on Friday, 14 September.
Famous American chef Anthony Tarro who has a restaurant in Providence Rhode Island Will be cooking that Hayes’ Bar Glandore on 12 September.
Paul Cartwright what is the chef the Roly’s Bistro in Dublin is cooking at Annie May’s in Skibbereen on 10 September.
There are many more too numerous to mention here but you can check them all at the Taste of West Cork website

Walks and Talks

During the week there are lots of tours, talks, demonstrations, workshops and outings. Here are just a few of the best:

Roaring Water Bay which is a Sea Safari cruise at Ballycotton on the 14th and 15th of September.
The Clonakilty Food Tour visits many food producers in the area including Clonakilty Black pudding, and cheese meat ice cream beer chartered and bread producers. Medieval feasting is it talk and slideshow about the feasting that took place in the great Hall of Dun na Sead castle in the Middle Ages.
Echoes of Ireland, at the West Cork Art Centre in Skibbereen is a four part play which chronicles the history of a Cork Family who emigrated to America in 1860.
Responsible whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise at Baltimore Harbor on Saturday 8th of September.
Mindful Eating – Food for Thought at Dzogchen Beara, Allihies on Saturday 8th of September.
Drimoleague Heritage Gourmet Walk at Collins Centra, Drimoleague on Saturday 8th of September.
The West Cork Food Tour at Manning’s Emporium Ballylickey, Bantry on Saturday 8th of September.
Managing Your Herb Garden at Riverside Studio Skibereen on Sunday 9th September.
An Afternoon of Michael Collins at Castleview Clonakilty Monday 10th September.
Seed Saving at Turk Head Skibbereen on Tuesday 11th September.
A Walk on the Wild Side, Sherkin Island 12th September.
Explore Bantry Bay by Boat – met at Bantry Bay Marina Thursday 13th September 2.00pm
Bere Island Park Run Saturday 8th of September at GAA Club Rerrin village Saturday 15th September 10.00am
Walk on Sheep’s Head Peninsula – meet at The Cabin Ahakista Saturday 15th September 11.30am

Markets and Fairs

Throughout the week there ar Farmers Markets and fairs at various locations:

Friday 7th September: Bantry Market Fair Day
Friday 7th September: Clonakilty Farmers Market
Friday 7th September: Skibbereen Country Market
Saturday 8th September: Skibbereen Country Market
Saturday 8th September: Bandon Farmers Market
Sunday 9th September: Schull Country Market
Sunday 9th September: Kilcrohane Country Fair
Tuesday 11th September: Macroom Market
Wednesday 12th September: Skibbereen Farmers Evening Market
Friday 14th September: Clonakilty Farmers Market
Friday 14th September: Bantry Market
Friday 14th September: Skibbereen Country Market
Saturday 15th September: Skibbereen Farmers Market
Saturday 15th September: Bandon Farmers Market

Towns and Villages in the West Cork Food Festival 2018

Almost every town and village in West Cork is participating in some way in this great food festival. Food tasting, special menus, celebrity chefs, markets, talks ,walks, workshops,and seminars are among the events during the festival.
If you pass through Bantry, Clonakilty, Skibbereen,, Baltimore, Kilcrohane, Leap, Dunmanway, Ballydehob, Castletownshend, Courtmacsherry, Bere Island, Bandon, Ahakista, Durrus, Glengarriff, Allihies, Macroom, Sherkin Island, Drimoleague, Schull, Castlehaven, Heir Island, Ballingeary, Rosscarbery, Goleen, Timoleague, Inchigeela, Glandore, Ballineen, Union Hall, Inish Beg Island, Ballyvourney, Bere Island or Cape Clear Island you will find some event or tasting to your liking.

For the full programme  of events at Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2018 click here.