Travel A taste of Kilkenny
The country’s medieval city turns on the flavour for the annual Savour Kilkenny festival, but there’s something to savour all year round
This October bank holiday weekend (October
24 to 28) Savour Kilkenny will be showcasing the great food and drink produced in Kilkenny city and county, with events, workshops and demonstrations.
Now established as one of the country’s most popular food festivals, Savour Kilkenny is celebrating its 13th year in 2019. A host of familiar faces from the world of food will take to the Savour Stage, including Edward Hayden, Anne Neary, Paul Flynn, Clodagh McKenna, Catherine Fulvio, Rory O’Connell, Darren Kennedy and Mount Juliet’s Ken Harker and John Kelly. An international visitor to look out for is bestselling Australian author and TV star, Kim McCosker, who will bring her ‘4 Ingredients’ thinking to the city. Away from the Savour Stage, there is a food and fitness bootcamp with Kathryn Thomas in Kilkenny Castle and on the KBC Bank Wellness Stage, dietitian Aveen Bannon will be hosting healthy cooking demonstrations and informative talks and workshops.
Other festival highlights are the always popular food market, with over 100 delicious stalls; an Australian beach barbecue with Kim McCosker; a vegan night with Roz Purcell at Harper’s Restaurant; a medieval banquet at the Medieval Mile Museum; the Culinary Ability Awards Gala Dinner at The Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel and an afternoon of tips, advice and tastings for in Hunter’s Yard at Mount Juliet. Family visitors to the festival are well catered for, with Déise Medieval – A Living History; Bunting Fairy and screen-printing workshops; The Cool Food School; a young food producers market; and an Agri-Aware farm.
Further events: Organic Wines Talk and Tasting with Owen Murphy from Wines Direct; Brian O’Toole’s Introduction to Beekeeping; Tom Coleman’s Overcoming Sleeping Problems and a workshop on essential oils with Sharon Hearne Smith.
While you’re there...
Kilkenny is Ireland’s most medieval city and just over an hour’s drive from Dublin. There are some great things to see during your visit:
Medieval Mile Museum
A great starting point for your visit, and it will help you explore the narrow streets, covered laneways, towers and castle that make up the Medieval Mile. Make your way through this 13th-Century church and graveyard and hear stories of life and death in medieval Kilkenny.
If you want an evening of delicious food, music and history, the Museum will be hosting a medieval banquet as part of the Savour Kilkenny festival on October 26.
Kilkenny Ghost Walking Tour
A one-of-a-kind ghost tour that takes you through the medieval streets, site of the first ever Irish witch trial and burning. Filled with tales of the paranormal that have been handed down for generations, Hallowe’en and the festival of Samhain are the perfect time to go have a scare!
Castlecomer Discovery Park
Set in a beautiful 80-acre woodland, this beautiful park has lots of recreational and educational activities, perfect for blowing the cobwebs away this mid-term. It is home to the country’s longest zip-lines (300m over water!) and a high ropes course, tree-top adventure walk, climbing wall and a junior woodland adventure course. On October bank holiday Monday, check out the Family Forage and Demonstration event at Castlecomer as part of Savour Kilkenny Festival.
Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
A great example of a romantic garden dating from the 1790s. Untouched for 200 years, it is a picturesque paradise with a waterfall tumbling to a rushing stream and woodland paths leading to a cottage orné. Tiny bridges sit among ancient trees and other 18th-Century style planting. A perfect day out while exploring Kilkenny, just 20 minutes from the city.
Kilkenny Castle
Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny Castle. Founded soon after the Norman conquest, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances over a period of 800 years. The castle is open to visitors all year and is the perfect activity in Kilkenny.
For lots more information about Savour Kilkenny 2019, October 24-28, see savourkilkenny.com