Savour Kilkenny Food Festival Returns for 16th Year with New Additions
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival returns next month for its 16th year, promising a vibrant celebration of food and culinary excellence. Taking place in Kilkenny city over the October bank holiday weekend (24-28 October), this year’s festival boasts an impressive line-up of international and local culinary stars. Renowned chefs such as Rachel Allen, JP MacMahon, Derry Clarke, Kevin Dundon, Gary O’Hanlon, Rory O’Connell, and Edward Hayden will share their expertise alongside new Graignamanagh residents James Kavanagh and William Murray. Also joining the festivities are Colm O’Regan, Brian Redmond, Lou Robbie, Jeeny Maltese, Anne Neary, and Tracie Daly.
With last year’s festival attracting 57,000 attendees, Savour Kilkenny 2024 is set to host over 100 market stalls featuring Artisan Food Producers and Street Food Vendors from across Ireland. The event will offer a rich variety of experiences including live cookery demonstrations, dining events, thought-provoking talks, workshops, and entertainment suitable for all ages.
The festival will explore crucial topics such as food waste, the circular economy, and the future of food in Ireland. Additionally, a special event celebrating the legendary women who have transformed Kilkenny’s food scene will take place. This discussion, moderated by Edward Hayden, will feature Anne Neary, Helen Finnegan, Olivia Goodwillie, Julie Calder-Potts, Mary Walsh, and Mag Kirwan, offering insights into their extraordinary contributions to the culinary world.
Savour Food Festival Manager, Marian Flannery, said:
“Savour Kilkenny is back, and this year promises to be bigger than ever. With over 80 events spanning four days, there’s something for everyone in the family, day and night. I’m thrilled to announce that culinary stars like Rachel Allen, Rory O’Connell, JP McMahon, Derry Clarke, Gary O’Hanlon, Kevin Dundon, and our very own Edward Hayden will be joining us this year. We’re also excited to welcome Currabinny’s James Kavanagh and William Murray to Kilkenny, and I encourage everyone to give our new residents a warm Kilkenny welcome.
For the first time, Savour Kilkenny will extend into Saturday night, featuring Abbaesque to lead us into a night of dancing. Additionally, you can step into the world of Bridgerton at a themed event hosted by Lyrath Estate Hotel. Sustainability is more important to us than ever before, with Colm O’Regan hosting a panel at a zero-waste breakfast prepared by Statham’s Executive Chef, Ken Harker.
We’ve also lined up plenty of entertainment for young visitors, including a teddy bear picnic, face painting, pumpkin carving, stilt walkers, and sensory food exploration. And as always, our furry friends are welcome as Madra Monday returns for its third year.
Finally, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors who have made this event possible. We couldn’t do it without them.”
On sponsoring Savour Kilkenny, Paul Nolan, Group Development Manager at Dawn Meats, said:
“We are thrilled to support Savour Kilkenny once again. The festival not only celebrates the rich culinary heritage of our region but also promotes practices that ensure a more sustainable future for the food industry. We look forward to contributing to this vibrant festival and engaging with the community of people that travel far and wide to attend.”
Entry to the Savour Market, cookery demos and talks are free. Dining events and special events are individually priced. For the full schedule of events and dining event tickets, see www.savourkilkenny.com or @savourkilkenny on Instagram.
