FÁILTE | WELCOME

As we enter the second half of our second decade, come and join us in the Marble City of Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval capital, on the October bank Holiday weekend. In the finest traditions of one of Ireland’s longest established and most respected food festivals, you will experience many of our perennial favourites but also hear new and fresh ideas and taste some of the finest cooking our island country can produce.

As our city and county promote the return of evening and night-time activities for all of us, including families, our festival will remain open longer on Saturday night, October 26th, where you can get into party mode with one of Ireland’s best-loved tribute bands, Abbaesque leading the dancing and singing.

You can experience the very best dining events in Mount Juliet kicking off the action with the Taste of Two Worlds dining event, while other events include Dancing with Brian Redmond at Ember, a Bridgerton-themed night in Lyrath Estate Hotel and multi-award winning chef, Ian Doyle will headline a weekend of pop-up events in Arán Bakery and Restaurant.

The Ballymaloe super-crew will host a unique night in the city’s Medieval Mile Museum featuring a star-studded group of their alumni producing a six-course feast, led by Rory O’ Connell. Other events will include great nights out in the Pembroke Hotel, Mountain View, Petronella, Paris Texas and Butler House.

In-keeping with the best traditions of Savour, the focus will be will on Kilkenny and the South East’s bountiful producers. The celebration of local, sustainable and seasonal cooking will return with the Taste Kilkenny Stage, where one third of all the ingredients will come from within twenty kilometres of the city. The powerhouse women of the local food industry will get centre-stage at the ‘Matriarchs of Kilkenny’ event on bank holiday Monday.

All of your favourite chefs will grace the Savour and Taste Kilkenny Stages. The Currabinny lads, James Kavanagh and William Murray love Kilkenny so much that they have moved here, while local favourites Edward Hayden, Anne Neary, Laura Gannon and Sinéad Moclair of Nóinín will all feature in the cookery demonstrations.

Joining them, will be national superstars, Rory O’Connell, JP McMahon, Derry Clarke, Kevin Dundon and the returning Rachel Allen, along with many others.

Challenging our environmental thinking will be panels on the Dinner 2050 movie and the Climate Change Breakfast, hosted by comedian, TV presenter and author Colm O’ Regan.

You won’t be short of taste experiences, challenging debates and discussion, family-friendly events for all the family and of course ‘comhluadar agus craic’ at what has become Kilkenny’s truly homecoming festival. We look forward to seeing you on Kilkenny’s medieval Parade Plaza and in the dozens of eateries and watering holes this October. It will be our sixteenth annual feast for the senses.

Is mise,

Ger Mullally

Festival Chairperson

2024 Festival Committee: Ger Mullally, Ian Brennan, Fiona Deegan & Jim O’Neill

2024 Festival Director: Marian Flannery