Prepare to celebrate the abundance of apples on offer in Clonmel from 28 to 30 September at their first ever apple festival.
Applefest has been in the works since the success of a tree trail in Clonmel last year informing people about the town’s apple history. Applefest organiser Theresia Guschlauer began speaking with apple farmers and Bulmers workers after the trail and it has progressed from there.
The festival received grants and help from Suircan Community Forum, Creative Ireland, and Tipperary County Council among others. It really does take a village, or, in this case, a town.
“There was an appetite for an apple-related event,” says Guschlauer. “Clonmel is really the apple capital of Ireland, after Armagh.”
Things to do
The Apple and Heritage Fair on Saturday from 11am to 5pm will see the Bulmers Apple Yard in Dowd’s Lane open to the public. This will be a celebration of all things apple, with apple pressing, cider making and apple foods to taste. Don’t miss the children’s activity corner and live music from Clonmel’s finest musicians.
On Saturday night, head to Clonmel’s Council Chamber for the Heritage Cider and Food Soirée from 8pm to 10pm. This will be a glorious event with live music and tasty Irish tapas using a host of local Tipperary ingredients. Longways Cider and wines from the Wine Buff will complete the night. Watch out for guest figures from Clonmel’s history, such as Charles Bianconi, portrayed by local performers.
Clonmel Applefest is taking place from 28 to 30 September for its inaugural year.
Sunday will not leave foodies disappointed by any stretch of the imagination. The Quaker Quarter of Clonmel will see a community, heritage and nature day, with walks and information workshops. There will be a pig on a spit, pizzas, crepes and a vast array of apple desserts to leave tummies satisfied.
Not only apples
There will be more than just apples at the festival, with art, prose and spoken word by local writers and poets from 4pm to 6pm on Friday to kick off the festival.
A screening of the Symphony of the Soil documentary by the creator of the Future of Food will be hosted by Suircan Community Forum at Bakers Bar on Sunday at 7.30pm. This documentary explores the complexity of the soil we step foot on every day.
Clonmel Applefest is taking place from 28 to 30 September for its inaugural year.
There will be a honey show celebrating beekeeping on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. It will exhibit honey and beeswax candles and provide cooking demonstrations using honey. “It is very exciting to see all of the people involved and it has been very interesting to work with them,” says Guschlauer.
All going well, it is hoped the festival will take place again next year.
“It is a way of reconnecting with that heritage and the apple. Clonmel has a thriving food industry… There is a lot of vitality, food businesses, crafts and displays,” says Guschlauer.
For more information on the festival, visit www.clonmelfestival.ie
Read more
Brewing up a storm
20 minutes with Patricia Callan, Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland
Prepare to celebrate the abundance of apples on offer in Clonmel from 28 to 30 September at their first ever apple festival.
Applefest has been in the works since the success of a tree trail in Clonmel last year informing people about the town’s apple history. Applefest organiser Theresia Guschlauer began speaking with apple farmers and Bulmers workers after the trail and it has progressed from there.
The festival received grants and help from Suircan Community Forum, Creative Ireland, and Tipperary County Council among others. It really does take a village, or, in this case, a town.
“There was an appetite for an apple-related event,” says Guschlauer. “Clonmel is really the apple capital of Ireland, after Armagh.”
Things to do
The Apple and Heritage Fair on Saturday from 11am to 5pm will see the Bulmers Apple Yard in Dowd’s Lane open to the public. This will be a celebration of all things apple, with apple pressing, cider making and apple foods to taste. Don’t miss the children’s activity corner and live music from Clonmel’s finest musicians.
On Saturday night, head to Clonmel’s Council Chamber for the Heritage Cider and Food Soirée from 8pm to 10pm. This will be a glorious event with live music and tasty Irish tapas using a host of local Tipperary ingredients. Longways Cider and wines from the Wine Buff will complete the night. Watch out for guest figures from Clonmel’s history, such as Charles Bianconi, portrayed by local performers.
Clonmel Applefest is taking place from 28 to 30 September for its inaugural year.
Sunday will not leave foodies disappointed by any stretch of the imagination. The Quaker Quarter of Clonmel will see a community, heritage and nature day, with walks and information workshops. There will be a pig on a spit, pizzas, crepes and a vast array of apple desserts to leave tummies satisfied.
Not only apples
There will be more than just apples at the festival, with art, prose and spoken word by local writers and poets from 4pm to 6pm on Friday to kick off the festival.
A screening of the Symphony of the Soil documentary by the creator of the Future of Food will be hosted by Suircan Community Forum at Bakers Bar on Sunday at 7.30pm. This documentary explores the complexity of the soil we step foot on every day.
Clonmel Applefest is taking place from 28 to 30 September for its inaugural year.
There will be a honey show celebrating beekeeping on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. It will exhibit honey and beeswax candles and provide cooking demonstrations using honey. “It is very exciting to see all of the people involved and it has been very interesting to work with them,” says Guschlauer.
All going well, it is hoped the festival will take place again next year.
“It is a way of reconnecting with that heritage and the apple. Clonmel has a thriving food industry… There is a lot of vitality, food businesses, crafts and displays,” says Guschlauer.
For more information on the festival, visit www.clonmelfestival.ie
Read more
Brewing up a storm
20 minutes with Patricia Callan, Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: