Thousands expected at weekend food festival near Kells

Up to 10,000 people are expected to attend an Irish Food Festival on Sunday 25th May in Sheridan’s Cheesemongers located at Virginia Road Station, Pottlereagh, Kells. A number of Meath food producers including Bakealicious; Brú Brewery; Boyne Valley Blue; Burke’s Farm Ice Cream; Caulfield Country Boards; Crossakiel Roll it Pastry; Celtic Cocoa; Cooper & Spices; Tom Doherty’s Butchers; Ethical Pork; Royal County Puddings; Ryan’s Farm; Big Red Kitchen; Floods Butchers; Killycoony House Preserves; Man of Aran Fudge and Newgrange Gold are just some of the 80 food producers from all over Ireland offering tastings and showcasing their artisan products. There will also be workshops and cookery demonstrations with two Michelin Star Chefs Ross Lewis and Richard Corrigan; workshops will also be given by broadcaster and critic John McKenna and ear to the ground presenter Ella McSweeney. As well as the many workshops and artisan food stalls there will also be plenty for all the Family including live music, fair games and free kids entertainment.

This event is on the hugely successful Boyne Valley Food series calendar of events www.boynevalleyfoodseries that has over 40 events planned this summer including Foraging Days, Slap Up Weekends; Farm Walks, Harvest Feasts and Opera and Food Festivals, all designed to provide a unique and memorable food, drink and cultural experience. The Boyne Valley Food Series is supported by Boyne Valley Tourism and Fáilte Ireland.

Kevin Sheridan who is organising the food festival said: “This is the fifth year of the Irish Food festival and each year the crowds get bigger growing from 3,000 in the first year to over 7,000 in 2013. Each year we extend what is on offer and in 2014 as well as the 80 plus food producers we have doubled the workshops and will also have a whole field with music, picnic area, children’s games and entertainment. What is unique about the Sheridan’s Cheesemongers Irish Food Festival is that the person behind the stall is the person who made the food. As well as the locally based artisan producers, others from as far away as Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Wicklow, Wexford and Tipperary will also be at the festival. For the first time we also have producers coming from Northern Ireland”.

Kevin Sheridan also said that an important aspect of the event is the involvement of local communities like local GAA clubs who manage the tea area, the local soccer club who coordinate the fair games and the ‘pride of place’ committee who will be directing the parking.