Courtmacsherry's Seafeast festival of good food on Sunday

By Martin Walsh  

APPETITES are already whetted for the second annual Courtmacshery SeaFeast on Sunday where the scenic village, that will be added to the Wild Atlantic way this month, will showcase its local food and drink produce.

Dubbed a ‘celebration of the rich fishing and food heritage’, the event will play host to a wide array of food stalls featuring local artisan produce and cookery demonstrations and based on last year’s success, Courtmacsherry should be buzzing on this May bank-holiday weekend.

The original concept behind the event was to promote Courtmacsherry and the Seven Heads Peninsula as a destination for a day trippers (or perhaps slightly longer) and to to help increase visitor numbers that would subsequenlty support local enterprises.

Spokesperson Barry Holland commented: ‘We were delighted to see so many visitors arrive in Courtmacsherry for the SeaFeast last year.  It is a testament to the great quality food and seafood that can be obtained in West Cork.’

Well-known social media personalities, James Kavanagh and William Murray (the duo behind the Currabinny Food Company) will give a cookery demonstration as will Sean Smith of the Cliff Townhouse (Dublin) world renowned restaurtant for its superb quality seafood.  

Using locally sourced seafood, local cafés, pubs and restaurants will be serving seafood dishes throughout the day. The event is free to attend and will take place in the village from noon ‘till 5pm.  

Details on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) at Courtmacsherry SeaFeast.

Earlier, on Saturday morning in the Courtmacsherry Hotel, the Seven Heads Peninsula Tourism group have a breakfast briefing (9am) to discuss topics on agriculture, food and tourism.  

Speakers include Sinead Hennessy (food tourism officer, Fáilte Ireland) and Avril Allshire-Howe (Rosscarbery Recipes, Caherbeg Free Range Pork and West Cork Farm Tours). Sinead Hennessy will give an insight to Fáilte Ireland’s new campaign ‘Taste the Island’ that will promote Ireland as a destination for food tourism.  

Other topics are the key trends in the agri-food and tourism sector and the importance of showcasing the provenance of locally sourced food and ideas for opportunities in the future.

Registration for this event is available by emailing [email protected] or by contacting the Courtmacsherry Hotel.

Tickets, including breakfast are priced at €20.