Irish Food Festivals & Events: 12 August - 2 September 2013

A Taste of Donegal Food Festival

The Taste of Donegal Food Festival is a festival designed to celebrate and promote great food and drink in Ireland. This year’s festival will be held over a three day period from Friday August 23 until Sunday August 25. Artisan food producers will be in attendance along with a large number of exhibitors from all over the country along with a number of celebrity chef appearances. The festival will be opened with a big fireworks display on the Friday evening. 

Doolin Irish Craft Beer Festival

This event takes place in Co. Clare over the weekend of the 23 - 25 August. It is a celebration of Irish craft brewing, Irish music and Irish artisan food.

Electric Picnic

If you can afford it then the Electric Picnic is on in Stradbally, Co. Laois from 30 August – 1 September. With a lineup that includes music, art, theatre, comedy, pantomime, food and holistic health it truly is an eclectic mix.

  

Hilden Beer & Music Festival

The Hilden Beer and Music Festival in Lisburn, Co. Antrim is a celebration of the best beers in the British Isles alongside local musical talent. Over 30 great beers, 24 bands, an all day BBQ and a lot of craic promises to make this a great festival. The festival will take place from the 23 - 25 August.

Kilcullen River Festival

On Sunday, the 25th of August, Kilcullen in Co. Kildare will be hosting its forth annual Kilcullen River Festival. The day will include Farmers Market & Craft Stalls, Family Fun & Games, River Obstacle Course and much more. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.

Meath Food Series

Throughout Meath with events running until September. Please see separate post here for more information.

The Lobster, Crab and All That Jazz

Dalkey Lobster Fest will take place over the weekend of the 23 - 25 August and will see lots of free events for the whole family taking place. There will be lots of seafood and music to enjoy on the day. 

Taste of Carlow

Carlow celebrates the 800^th Anniversary of the building of Carlow Castle with lots of events happening from the 22^nd – 25^th August. During the Festival the International Taste of Carlow and Craft Fair also takes place.  One of the highlights of the Taste of Carlow Festival will be the Inaugural Irish Chef’s World Culinary Challenge and this will take place on the 24 & 25 August.

The Ultimate Whiskey Battle at Kilbeggan 

On Saturday 17th August Ireland, Scotland and the USA battle it out for the title of Ultimate World Whiskey in Kilbeggan Distillery. The Kilbeggan team will whisk you back to 1757 as you discover how Irish whiskey was made in decades past and will show you how it is done today.  Transport from/to Dublin, lunch and whiskey tastings are all included in the 60 euro ticket price but space is limited!

Virginia Show 

The 2013 Virginia Show will take place on Wednesday the 21st August along the shores of Lough Ramor. There will be lots of livestock on show, arts and crafts, children's classes and cookery demos by Neven Maguire.

Youghal Mackerel Festival 

Taking place in Co. Cork from the 31 August - 2 September this festival promises lots of fun, fish and food trails over the weekend. 

N.B Even though the events section is updated frequently, dates and times are liable to change so please do check the websites yourself as well. If you would like to have your event added please contact Kat at thepurplepageireland (at) gmail.com

La Serre Restaurant: The Village at Lyons

Recently my sister and her family came home from Oz for a flying visit. They were only home for two weeks but they brought the weather with them and the two weeks were spent in a haze of sunshine, swimming and eating out. She also came home bang in the middle of our family birthday season and so got the chance to celebrate mine and the mother's birthday. For the mother's mini surprise birthday (she picked the venue as a family dinner, she didn't know we were bringing cake!) we all went to La Serre which can be found in the very beautiful surrounding of the Village at Lyons.

 

La Serre is the restaurant part of The Village at Lyons and it is, without doubt, in one of the prettiest settings I have ever seen. The dining area is in the original Turner designed conservatory and the room is filled with light and the scent of the fig plants that adorn the walls. La Serre is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but is open for both lunch and dinner. We were there for lunch on a Saturday and were availing of their €25 set menu. This a great value menu with wonderful options on it and is very far removed from a typical set menu. The staff are also very open to accommodating any allergies that anyone may have.

Since there was such a large group of us I think we nearly ordered everything off the menu. For starters we ordered a variety of dishes, two of which I only have pictures of as the others got stuck in too fast! So the two starters were:

Irish Goats Cheese, Pickled Beetroots, Mixed Greens, Candied Pecans

Cured Salmon, Fennel and Apple Salad, Lemon Créme Fraiche, Lavender Jelly

Both the starters were wonderful. They were light and a perfect starter size and were filled with unexpected flavours such as the candied pecans or the lavender jelly.

For our mains we ordered the following dishes:

Cod, Cauliflower Puree, Green Beans and Lemon Butter

Salmon, Crush Potato, Wild Mushrooms, Puy Lentils and Champagne Cream

Prime Irish Rib Eye Steak with Seasonal Vegetables, Potato, Red Wine Jus

Tagliatelle Pasta, Truffle Vinaigrette, Wild Mushrooms, Shaved Parmesan

The nephew's dairy free cod dish (photo taken by him :-)

All the mains were stunning with a plethora of flavours running through each of them but which all worked wonderfully with their individual components. The only dish I wasn't totally enamoured with was the steak. It was still great and perfectly cooked for those that ordered it. It was just a bit ordinary compared to all the other dishes on the menu though I can imagine it sells very well there. I think the best thing about the courses is that they had a wonderful summery feel attached to them with their use of seasonal ingredients.

Our lunch was finished off with a mixed berry tart from the Hansel and Gretel bakery in Navan. Hats off to the staff who managed to conceal it from my mother, put it in a fridge and bring it back in with candles. They didn't have to do it but it made a lovely lunch even more special. 
 

We then finished up our meal with some coffees, a wander around their gorgeous grounds and a walk by the canal.
 

A lunch in La Serre is a wonderful way to spend a birthday/family get together. We didn't expect it to be as fabulous as it was as it was only for lunch, but the food, the staff and the setting made it a very special place to spend the day. I only have one thought in my head now ... if that was lunch, I wonder what dinner would be like?!

Irish Food Festivals and Events: 2 - 11 August 2013

Bray Summerfest

This year's SummerFest will take place over 5 weekends from 5th July to the 4th August. There will be over 60 free events covering music, kids workshops, sport, the airshow and of course food. 

A Taste of Cavan

A two-day festival in Cavan Town on the 10 & 11 August which celebrates locally produced food. Discover artisan cheese, chocolate, ice-cream, bread and much much more with over 75 stands taking part. There will be lots of cookery demos, events for the kids and a jazz band to keep everyone entertained. Admission is €2 and under 16s get in free. 

Annascaul Beerfest

The Annascaul Beerfest is a charity event run by the people and publicans of Annascaul in West Kerry from the 2 – 5 August. It’s all about good beers, good music and good company — and all in aid of a good cause! There will be an Irish Craft Beer and Food Tasting, a bbq, music and lots of other events taking place.

Carlingford Oyster Festival

Taking place from the 8 – 11 August this festival has a lot to offer with a colourful Festival Street Market, lively street entertainment, Artisan Craft & Food Stalls & local restaurants offering delicious fishy dishes, chowders and local cuisine. There will also be a sailing regatta on Carlingford Lough, guided medieval tours and the opportunity to try your hand at kayaking. There will, of course, be plenty of opportunities to try out the wonderful Carlingford Oyster. The Festival also features Morgan's Ocean Fresh Carlingford Oyster Pearl Competition.

Dublin Horse Show

The Horse Show is a Dublin institution and takes place in the RDS from the 7 - 11 August. It is one of Ireland's largest events in which the best show horses and the best international show jumpers compete for honours. If you aren’t into racing though there will be plenty of food, entertainment and shopping to keep you occupied. Or get your glad rags on and enter ladies day on the Thursday.

Enniscrone Black Pig Festival

This festival takes place in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo from the 8 - 12 August. There will be a parade, live music, fireworks and a market day on the Sunday.

Meath Food Series

Throughout Meath with events running until September. Please see separate post here for more information.

 

Moynalty Steam Treshing Festival

This is one event we go as a family without fail every year. Farming traditions from the late 19th century are celebrated with displays of steam and horse threshing. There is also lots to discover with old traditions such as butter churning and metalwork being demonstrated. There is also lots for the kids to do with a funfair, a dog show and lots of animals on display. Indeed every year I have to be persuaded not to come home with a puppy! Takes place on Sunday 11th August in Co. Meath.

National Country Fair

The National Country Fair is Ireland's national countryside event. This two-day family fair is a mix of fishing, shooting, and equestrian events and competitions. Visitors can enjoy one of the country's largest food festivals with dozens of artisan producers, a crafts fair and an antiques fair on offer. The Fair takes place at Borris House in Co. Carlow over the 3rd & 4th August. 

N.B Even though the events section is updated frequently, dates and times are liable to change so please do check the websites yourself as well. If you would like to have your event added please contact Kat at thepurplepageireland (at) gmail.com