Bees, breakfasts and Beara are all part of Taste of West Cork festival

BUSINESS breakfasts, a bumble bee experience, a vintage caravan filled with wine and a wildlife tour of Beara are just some of the delights on offer at this year’s Taste of West Cork festival.

 The food fun – and associated events – will kick off on Friday September 8th and the events will run until Sunday September 17th .

Preparations for the 10-day annual festival have been underway for months as organisers have worked tirelessly to ensure that this year’s line-up of events surpasses previous years and also the public’s high expectations. 

There will be over 230 culinary and adventure events taking place across 36 towns and villages and eight islands, with guest chefs attending from all over the world.

From homegrown talents like Derry Clarke, Neven Maguire, Danni Barry, Bryan McCarthy and Ross Lewis to name but a few, to international chefs like Calin Talpos, John Granaghan and Florencio Fons, the 10-day event gives festival-goers a rare opportunity to sample the culinary delights created by these world-renowned chefs at a variety of fabulous venues all around the West Cork region.

While culinary adventures and food samplings will be in abundance throughout the course of the Festival, there will also be an opportunity for those involved in the food industry on a professional level to discuss pressing issues during a number of forums and conferences. 

One such conference, entitled ‘The Future of Fairs and Markets in Ireland,’ will take place on Friday September 8th from 11am to 5pm at the West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen. 

This event is for market traders and council officials involved in the regulation of markets and consumers who shop in the markets. The conference will discuss the markets and their importance to local food economies, as well as how to find a creative way through the legislation governing them. 

After lunch, the conference attendees will divide into groups to discuss some of the problems regarding the legislation from the perspectives of traders, consumers and regulators. The conference will be presented by Madeline McKeever, in conjunction with Skibbereen Farmers Market Committee and guest speakers include Darina Allen.

Other highlights include a guided safari of the wild and beautiful Beara Peninsula with author and photographer John Eagle. Or why not take a virtual journey through the wine regions of the world while relaxing in a gorgeous vintage caravan in Clonakilty?

As part of a plant-based day at Good Things café in Skibbereen, author, nutritionist and chef Oliver McCabe will present a fuel-food breakfast cookery demonstration, followed by a lunchtime discussion on how important healthy eating is in this day and age. There will also be a Q&A session with Good Things’ proprietor Carmel Somers.

Eco activist and TV presenter Duncan Stewart will be the guest speaker at the West Fork Business Breakfast at the West Cork Hotel on Friday, September 15th. He will speak on the topics of sustainable food and fossil fuels.

The Community Garden on the Bantry Road in Dunmanway will host an event for young guests on Tuesday September 12th from 10am-12pm.

Parents and pre-schoolers are invited to the Dunmanway Community garden to learn all about bees, while enjoying a morning filled with storytelling, games, crafts and of course, yummy snacks! 

This event promises to be a fun, informative and interactive morning for all.

For a full schedule of events, see www.atasteofwestcork.com.