Celebrate 10th birthday of Dingle Food Festival from Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd

ONE of the many qualities associated with the Dingle Food Festival is its ability to be both interactive and instructive for its visitors. Sampling and celebrating food might be the number one objective over the three days, but so is having lots of fun, getting involved and engaging with the special atmosphere of it all. Did you know that some of the top chefs in the business will give cookery demos? Or that food markets and street entertainment are a major part of the festival line up? Or that you can pre-purchase a ticket and set off on a delightful taste trail through the magical streets of Dingle, stopping off to sample delicious foods in over 80 different food outlets along the way?

The ‘Great Daingean Uí Chúis Bake-Off’ is also back by popular demand this year and if sampling delicious food - while at the same time burning calories and enjoying the breathtaking scenery - is your idea of a perfect day out, then you might want to check out the ‘Gourmet Cycle’ which sets off on Saturday morning from Dingle. Dingle Food Festival is all about putting fun into food through positive interaction between supplier and sampler and this is something it does very well.

A special coffee morning will take place on Friday to help raise funds for vital cancer services, Irish dancing, and a dynamic opening night at the Dingle Bay Hotel with some top class acts is scheduled. Local musicians will be dotted throughout the town’s various establishments to help keep the air full of melodious tones over the three days (and nights!). So now you know there’s no shortage of entertainment lined up to help keep your appetite ticking over.

Workshops are also a popular part of Dingle Food Festival and this year promises to be no different. Herbal remedies, managing your own herb garden, productive gardening, bee-keeping, coffee cupping, black and white pudding making, the skill involved in making cheese, yogurt and dairy products, foraging foods and fermentation are just some of the skills you’ll learn when signing up for a workshop during Dingle Food Festival.

For much more information about what’s happening at this year’s festival, check out Dingle Food Festival’s Facebook page for regular updates or visit www.dinglefood.com to download a festival programme.

Paella in O’Flaherty’s Bar Dingle.