Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin was joined by renowned chefs Neven Maguire and Brian McDermott to mark the first day of the Dingle Food Festival which takes place this weekend as part of Fáilte Ireland’s Taste the Island Programme.
Taking place in the beautiful fishing town of Dingle on the Wild Atlantic Way, the town is set to come alive to enjoy an array of events showcasing fresh local food and drink.
Highlights of the festival include cookery demonstrations, over 50 market stalls, workshops, street entertainment, wine and whiskey tastings, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy across the weekend event.
Speaking at the festival, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin said –
“Food is a central part of the Irish visitor experience. About 35% of average tourist spend is on food and drink making it worth over €2bn to Ireland’s economy every year, so it’s clear that it makes a considerable contribution to Ireland. I am delighted to see the Dingle Food Festival included in the Taste the Island Programme. It is a great example of a local community coming together to celebrate Ireland’s food and drink and create something unique to provide tourists with an authentic experience that they will never forget.”
The Dingle Food Festival is part of the new Taste the Island Programme, a 12-week celebration of Ireland’s seasonal ingredients, adventurous tastes and unique experiences taking place across September, October and November.
Taste the Island is an all-island three-year programme that will significantly enhance Ireland’s reputation for its food and drink. The initiative has been developed by Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Speaking at the Dingle Food Festival, Tracey Coughlan, Food Tourism Manager at Fáilte Ireland said:
“Food has a unique way of connecting visitors to a destination and its people. The Dingle Food Festival is a great example of an event that provides a superb experience while showcasing the county’s local produce across many businesses, experiences and attractions. Fáilte Ireland is delighted that the Dingle Food Festival is included in the Taste the Island programme of events.”
Mathew Sean Griffin Chair of the food festival said -
“The festival which is in its 13th year wouldn’t be possible without the huge amount of volunteer work from the people and businesses on the Dingle Peninsula. This year we are thrilled to be included as part of the Taste the Island programme, an initiative that will have a great impact on how Ireland is viewed for its food and drink. We are also very proud to highlight that this year the festival is committed to be a waste free festival by 2020 and we encourage all festival goers to purchase a festival pack or else bring their own utensils on the taste trail.”
Find out more about ‘Taste the Island’ at: https://www.discoverireland.ie/taste-the-island/
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