Former Schull students stir things up at EP foodie tents

FORMER pupils of a West Cork secondary have practically taken over one of the key elements of the annual music and arts festival, Electric Picnic.

In recent years the Theatre of Food arena has become a real must-visit for foodies from Ireland and abroad, with many celebrity musicians also making an appearance, tempted no doubt by the sweet smells and delicious aromas. 

But what many don’t realise is that the food emporium of Ireland’s end-of-summer festival is dominated by the foodies of West Cork.

This all began 10 years ago when Durrus residents and Irish food writers John and Sally McKenna presented the Bridgestone Awards at Electric Picnic. 

The Theatre of Food developed into a food show, which has gone from strength to strength and is now a major part of the EP line-up.

 From the start, John and Sally brought their children, including son Samuel, along to the event and now, a decade on, Samuel has joined with his brother PJ and several other past pupils of Schull Community College, to run this exciting and very popular element of the popular music and food extravaganza.

So next week, joined by several other West Cork food, sound and visual experts, the Schull and Durrus contingent will begin its annual invasion of the Co Laois venue.

• For full story, see page 25.