Cask Ales & Strange Brew Festival

Franciscan Well Brewery and Brewpub, Co Cork

30 January-1 February

With free admission and a bevy of curious brews to sample, this festival at the Franciscan Well Brewery and Brewpub in Cork is a great day out for craft beer lovers.

Be warned; this is not your average beer festival. Emphasis here is on the use of unique ingredients and experimental brewing processes.

Featuring Irish artisan brewers like Yellow Belly, Lough Gill and Rising Sons, the event culminates in the Beoir Cask Competition to find the most unique and extraordinary beers brewed for the festival. You can book your space now on Eventbrite.ie.

FitYard Health, Fitness and Family Fun Festival

Swords, Co Dublin

15 February

As evidenced by the #irishfitfam movement, it’s become increasingly important to Irish families to create healthy lifestyle habits together. FitYard Health, Fitness and Family Fun Festival promises not only healthful activities for the whole family, but an array of delicious foods by Dublin-based pop-up EatYard.

Taking place at Jam Park, a so-called “adult playground” with arcade games and a large event space, it begins with an adult-only morning session with an array of fitness classes (Box Fit, anyone?) talks with health experts and, of course, plenty of food.

In the afternoon, you can bring the kids for fun classes like Family Zumba, have a late lunch and enjoy cooking workshops from the Cool Food School. Sessions must be booked in advance and are available now (from €6) on Eventbrite.ie.

West Waterford Festival of Food

Dungarvan, Co Waterford

17-19 April

As one of the largest food festivals in the country, West Waterford Festival of Food is known for combining artisanal markets with fine-dining events, local food walks and family fun.

Featuring a two-day children’s programme, a foraging trail, pop-up dinners and a series of bilingual and as gaeilge events (based in the Ring Gaeltacht), it’s easy to see how West Waterford Festival of Food has become one of Ireland’s most loved annual food experiences.

CEO Gemma Tipton says that the festival brings a unique experience to those visiting Dungarvan and its environs for the first time.

“Running since 2008, it’s hard to pick what’s the best thing about the West Waterford Festival of Food,” she says.

“There’s the glorious scenery – from the Greenway to the Copper Coast, the Blackwater Valley and beyond. This part of Ireland has been a well-kept secret for too long, but the secret is out at last.

“The rich farmland, teeming rivers and the coastline itself gives our local producers a wealth of ingredients – so whether it’s foraging with Marie Power, the Seaweed Gardener, sampling gin at the Blackwater Distillery, or tucking into succulent Comeragh Mountain Lamb, you’re spoiled for choice.”

A full roster of events will be available from March on the West Waterford Festival of Food’s website www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com.

Burren Slow Food Festival

Burren Slow Food Banquet is an event for chefs and food lovers alike.

Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

15-17 May

Set against a colourful Lisdoonvarna backdrop, the Burren Slow Food Festival is quickly becoming a favourite event for chefs, producers and environmentally conscious food lovers.

Celebrations will kick off with the annual seafood journey to the Aran Islands, where guests enjoy a meal made from the local bounty of the sea. On Saturday and Sunday, an artisan food market will occur in tandem with a programme of discussions and demos.

“The Burren Slow Food Festival provides the region with a welcome platform to promote the best of the Burren’s produce,” says founder member of Slow Food Clare and chair of the Burren Slow Food Festival Birgitta Hedin-Curtin.

“For the 2020 festival, we have chosen the theme of ‘Sustainable (Food) Development’ as we recognise the critical role that food production has in protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources.”

Early booking is essential. Events are still being planned but will be posted on the Slow Food Clare website in the coming weeks www.slowfoodclare.com.

Bloom in the Park

Phoenix Park, Co Dublin

28 May-1 June

Very little can beat a sunny afternoon in Dublin’s beautiful Phoenix Park, but when Bord Bia’s Bloom in the Park is on, the fantastic natural atmosphere is amplified with swoon-worthy designer gardens, food and gardening demonstrations, small producer stalls and fun food trucks.

Take a stroll through the Food Village to meet Irish producers and sample their wares, bring your kids to see the animals at the Bloom Farmyard and then find your ideal lunch and a shady spot to eat. When it comes to family days out, a trip to Bloom is difficult to top.

As in past years, in 2020 you will be able to visit the Love Irish Food pavilion to discover some popular Irish food brands and learn how your food choices can support Irish producers.

Early bird tickets are now available for purchase at www.bloominthepark.com.

Taste of Dublin

Chefs at Taste of Dublin, 2019.

Iveagh gardens, Dublin City

11-14 June

What happens when you bring together Dublin’s best chefs and brightest culinary minds? You get Taste of Dublin, the city’s largest food celebration.

With a line-up of local chefs demoing their signature fare (in 2019 there were over 160 demos throughout the festival) and an endless array of food, drink and frivolity, there’s a reason why folk from all over the country flock to Dublin for this event.

Marketing director of Equinox Events Avril Bannerton, says more visitors than ever before are expected for 2020.

“Taste of Dublin is returning for its 15th year,” she says. “Attendees will enjoy an idyllic summer weekend of gorgeous food, drinks, markets and entertainment at the Iveagh Gardens, where over 32,000 people are expected to attend.”

Tickets are on sale now from €15 (booking fee not included) at www.tasteofdublin.ie.

A Taste of Donegal

Taste of Donegal is set to offer visitors a unique experience. \ Eireial Creations

Donegal town

28-30 August

With an impressive roster of celebrity chef demonstrations, A Taste of Donegal is one of the county’s most special celebrations. In 2019, the likes of Neven Maguire, Kevin Dundon and Gary O’Hanlon all took to the main stage in addition to the many masterclasses and pop-ups around Donegal town.

Donegal town was recently awarded the overall winner of Foodie Destinations 2019 by the Restaurant Association of Ireland for offering a stand-alone, unique food and visitor experience. We’re not one bit surprised.

Festival chair Mary Mc Gettigan says that, since its inception in 2008, the festival has grown beyond all expectations – with visitor numbers increasing from 5,000 to 25,000 and exhibitors expanding from 30 to 130 over the three-day weekend.

“In terms of how this affects the community, it creates a feel-good factor as it is organised and delivered by volunteers; instilling a great sense of pride to all involved,” she says. “We are very proud that A Taste of Donegal Food Festival played a major role in Donegal Town becoming Ireland’s Foodiest Town in 2019.”

You can learn more about A Taste of Donegal 2020 at www.atasteofdonegal.com.

Savour Kilkenny

Savour Kilkenny.

Kilkenny city

23-26 October

Taking place each October bank holiday weekend, this autumnal festival showcases the very best of Kilkenny’s local food, culture and produce.

Bringing the most innovative culinary minds to the medieval city in Ireland’s Ancient East, previous guests have included best-selling Australian author Kim McCosker and Irish food personalities Paul Flynn, Clodagh McKenna, Catherine Fulvio, Rory O’ Connell and Darren Kennedy.

October is a wonderful time to visit Kilkenny. The trees covering the castle grounds are vibrantly colourful, the sun is (usually) out and the craft beer tent is always buzzing. Local restaurants and chefs often organise bespoke dinners, pop-ups and discussion groups as fringe events.

Savour Kilkenny is free to the public, though some events are ticketed and must be purchased in advance. More information can be found at www.savourkilkenny.com.

Whiskey Live Dublin

The National Convention Centre, Dublin city

27-28 November

A great way to warm up in chilly November, Whiskey Live Dublin, Ireland’s premier whiskey tasting event, is the place to be if you enjoy a good spirit.

Managing director of Celtic Whiskey Shop and organiser of Whiskey Live Dublin, the Irish Whiskey Awards and Dublin Drinks Mixer Alistair Alpine says the event has grown tremendously over the years.

“We began with just a few brands at the first Whiskey Live Dublin in Mansion House,” he says.

“Now Whiskey Live Dublin 2020 will mark the 10th year for this event and we will be moving to the National Convention Centre to accommodate over 90 brands and 2,700 consumers.

“Whiskey Live Dublin gives people a chance to meet the faces behind their favourite brands and share their passion for Ireland’s national spirit – we’re delighted that it has become such an important date in the Irish events calendar.”

Tickets are €44 (not including booking fee) available from www.whiskeylivedublin.com or €44 from Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

At least €10 from every ticket will be donated to charity partner Down Syndrome Dublin, along with money raised during the event.

More Exciting Food Events in 2020

Food on the Edge

  • Great eats, panel discussions and guest speakers from around the world.
  • 19-20 October 2020, Galway city.
  • www.foodontheedge.ie

    Dingle Food Festival

  • Beautiful landscapes and a fantastic Taste Trail through town.
  • 2-4 October 2020, Dingle, Co Kerry.
  • www.dinglefood.com

    National Ploughing Championships

  • The largest Ploughing Championship in the world with oodles of local Irish producers on site.
  • 15-17 September 2020, Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow.
  • www.npa.ie

    Dublin’s Big Grill Festival

  • Many of Ireland’s best chefs; grilling anything and everything.
  • 13-16 August, Dublin.
  • www.biggrillfestival.com