Up to 40,000 expected to attend Savour Kilkenny

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Cookery demonstrations from the country’s best loved chefs

Ger Mullally, Savour Kilkenny; Anne Neary, Ryland House; Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed; Tim Butler, Kilkenny Co Council; Chef Edward Hayden and Marian Flannery, Savour Kilkenny Director

Simply delicious are the only words to describe the programme for this year’s Savour Kilkenny food festival over the October bank holiday weekend.

Minister for Agriculture and Food, Michael Creed launched the programme on Friday evening in the courtyard of Rothe House in the centre of the city.

The Cork man was really impressed by the breadth and quality of events and the appetising foods which will be on offer.

“Kilkenny has a profound heritage with food, and it’s something which we must continue to invest in and celebrate,” he said.

“Savour Kilkenny presents the perfect opportunity to highlight the work being done by food producers all across the country, it provides a platform where their work is showcased and reminds us just how creative and talented the people working within this industry are.

“Savour Kilkenny is also a great attraction for tourists and its fantastic once again to see the medieval city put on a world-class festival for everyone to enjoy,” he added.

Ger Mullally, Chairperson of Savour Kilkenny said he cannot wait for this year’s festival.

“We believe visitor numbers are going to be at an all-time high, with attendees expected to reach 40,000.

“We can attribute this increased interest in the festival to many factors, including, the stellar line up and packed itinerary of events, as well as the continued support and participation from all the producers and businesses in Kilkenny, not to mention Kilkenny’s recent win as Ireland’s Top Foodie Destination.

“All of this combined means the festival is set to be taken to a whole new level this year,” he said.

Children
The Children’s Programme will take priority, with a wide variety of activities and events to suit all age groups.

This includes everything from The Young Food Producers Market, to Treasure Hunts to Cooking Classes, and everything in between.

The itinerary for the five days is jam packed with something for all the family. Festival highlights include cookery demonstrations with The Happy Pear, Edward Hayden, Rosanna Davison, Derval O’Rourke, Rory O’Connell, David Gillick, Kevin Dundon, Domini and Peaches Kemp, Kevin Thornton, Finn Ní Fhaoláin, Eugene McSweeney and JP McMahon, to name but a few.

A special feature at this year’s Savour Kilkenny, which will also mark a first for the festival is The Darkness into Light Bowls Exhibition.

The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland in association with Ceramics Ireland and Savour Kilkenny invited ceramicists from all over Ireland to donate a ‘Darkness into Light’ bowl in aid of Pieta House, and these will be auctioned at Savour Kilkenny 2018.

Darina Allen
The events itinerary is wide and varied, with events featuring some well-known and loved personalities, including Darina Allen, Rory O’Connell, Frances Walsh from The Honest Project, and even some of Kilkenny’s hurlers, Jackie Tyrrell, and Paul Murphy.

A festival first for Savour Kilkenny is the Savour your Wellness series, which features a number of cooking demos, engaging talks, and well-being focused clinics. Savour has always had a healthy eating focus but this year there is a strong emphasis on well-being from every aspect.