This amazing food festival attracts food lovers from all over the world to the beautiful tented village on the Pier in Donegal Town, facing out to Donegal Bay and surrounded by a backdrop of the Blue Stack Mountains! The success of this three day celebration of great food and drink is due to the vibrant personalities of the celebrity and local chefs who will be cooking up a storm over the weekend, the wonderful food produces and their produce and the amazing work of a small but totally dedicated committee head by Mary and Ernan McGettigan.
Food lovers will also enjoy over 120 food and drink exhibitors and top hotels and restaurants from all over the island of Ireland who will be showcasing and selling their produce, wine and craft beers with tastings from an huge variety of food ranging from, confectionery, meat, fish, dairy products and specialty foods.
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| Photo Credit - A wonderful evening view of A Taste of Donegal Food Festival by Mark Wickam |
This Donegal Food Festival weekend includes some high profile cookery demonstrations with some of Ireland top celebrity Irish chefs such as Gary O’Hanlon, Neven Maguire, Derry Clarke, Catherine Fulvio, Kevin Dundon, Brian McDermott, Edward Hayden, Shane Smith, Gearóid Lynch and Actor turned chef, Simon Delaney and more!
There are more cookery demos and exhibitions from local Donegal Celebrity Chefs Zack Gallagher, Anthony Armstrong, Maurice Mc Geehan, Kieran Duey, Mick Mc Crudden, Martin Anderson and Martin Hernandez.
The event will also include a tutored Cocktail Masterclass by leading experts Coole Swan, and A Live Gin Distillation Masterclass in association with Dicey Reilly’s Ballyshannon and delivered by Gin Ambassador Paul Flynn & Distiller James McKenna from Listoke Distillery & Gin School Drogheda.
Ciaran Kennedy (Hunny Pots) and Sian Breslin (Donegal Manor and Cookery School) will showcase their specialist skills in planning healthy meals without spending a fortune, recipes to keep the body healthy and happy, cocktail making using fresh fruits, proper ice, decent spirits and balanced measures and specialised Gin tasting, “Hunny Pots” tray bakes made from 100% pure and natural Wexford (but he's a Donegal man) honey!
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| Donegal chef Brian McDermott is the MC for the whole weekend at A Taste of Donegal |
The 2017 A Passion To Inspire Chefs Competition will take place under the watchful eye of Anthony Armstrong (WACS), Peter Griffths (BCF), Gerard M. Molloy (ACF) and Bob Mc Donald (MCGB). Entrants are required to cook and present two different dishes, a starter and a main course, each for two covers, showcasing the best of Irish produce.
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| The Agri Aware Mobile Farm will be at the Taste of Donegal Food Festival |
Another new attraction this year is the excellent Agri Aware Mobile Farm. This independent agri-food educational body's interactive attraction is a great way for children to follow the “Farm to Fork” journey of their food in a fun and interactive way.
Ireland's comical celebrity chef Joe Shannon & comedian Frank Forde will be cooking and having a laugh in the Cookery Comedy Theatre. There may even be a bit of singing and dancing thrown in! As Chef Joe says, “We'll teach you everything in the culinary world that you probably don’t need to know!"
There will also be free admission to Donegal Town Castle all day on Sunday 28th August.
The 2017 Taste Of Donegal Food Festival opens on Friday 25th August at 4pm. The Official Opening will be preformed by Dr Séan Duffy Head of School of Tourism LYIT Killybegs at 7.00 pm.
The opening event will be hosted by TV3 Star Noel Cunningham, who is also the General Manager of the local Harvey’s Point Country Hotel. Friday evening will conclude with the amazing annual Fireworks display which takes place over the reflective flat calm waters of Donegal Bay.
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| The annual Fireworks at th Taste of Donegal are an amazing sight! |
A Taste of Donegal is truly a food lovers dream and will showcase Donegal Town, the surrounding area as a region of high quality restaurants and hotels, with a vibrant and growing artisan food network!
Admission is €6.00 per adult, €1.00 per child, €15.00 for a weekend pass.
For the full programme of events and more info check out www.atasteofdonegal.com and see their Facebook page A Taste of Donegal.
WIN a WEEKEND PASS FOR 2 for A TASTE OF DONEGAL FOOD FESTIVAL!
I have an exclusive Weekend pass for 2 people to give away for a lucky reader.
Simply LIKE & SHARE the A Taste of Donegal Facebook Page
adding a comment saying "I want to win the Weekend Pass for 2"
The Winner will be announced on Thursday evening (24th August 2017) and the Passes will be available on the Gate at the Food Festival from Friday morning. Good Luck!
Donegal Town is my Home Town and I think it's the Best Food Festival in Ireland!
I'll be there and look forward to seeing you at A Taste Of Donegal Food Festival!
Zack