Of course, it’s fun to taste exotic flavours from around the globe, but in the rush to embrace international cuisine, we almost forgot about the wonderful flavours that have their origin in our lush green landscape – and no landscape is lusher or greener than that of County Carlow!
Because we feel strongly that we should cherish and celebrate our food heritage, alongside our vibrant craft tradition, here at Carlow Tourism we can’t wait for the Celtic Taste of Carlow festival, which will be held on April 22nd and 23rd at the Liberty Tree and Kennedy Avenue in Carlow’s historic town centre.
Irish food, both traditional and innovative, has been having a major renaissance in recent years, and it’s really exciting to think of our wonderful local produce being enjoyed in the context of a festival.
Visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to relish a wide range of products, including artisanal cheeses, home-baked breads and pastries, savouries, treats and desserts. We will also have a dedicated craft beer marquee – very appropriate, as Carlow, with its own much-loved and long-established O’Hara’s range of beer and ales, is a pioneer in the craft beer revival. All the beers on offer at the festival are painstakingly made using traditional methods honed over centuries of experience, and without preservatives or artificial ingredients.
As well as a rich variety of food items, our craft market will give visitors the chance to experience some of the most beautiful crafts produced in Carlow and in Ireland today – and to bring something special home!
While visitors enjoy their food and drinks in the historic setting of our beautiful town, they will also listen to a range of music provided by local and international artists, including musicians from Brittany, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and the Isle of Man, who practice in the Celtic tradition. Music will be provided in various locations, including the beer marquee (after all, beer and music have gone hand-in-hand for as long as both have existed)!
For those who love cooking, and want to learn how to get the best from the wholesome, natural food items we produce on our emerald isle, we have two full days of cooking demonstrations from the south-east’s and Ireland’s top chefs. With high quality Irish produce, anyone can create mouth-watering dishes at home, and our exhibitors – who include Derry Clarke of L’Ecrivain, Kevin Dundon of Dunbrody House and Carlow locals Rob White of Clashganny House Restaurant and Keith Kenny of the Boardwalk Bistro – will show you how.
The Celtic Taste of Carlow festival is fun for all the family. To make sure that our youngest visitors have a great time, we have a range of activities specially for them. They can get their faces painted, take part in creative workshops, in which they will make art to take home and learn more about our shared Celtic heritage, and enjoy exciting storytelling (all for free!), or have a spin in a traditional carousel.
So, put April 22nd and 23rd in your diary and join us for the Celtic Taste of Carlow festival. There is no finer way to celebrate the spring season, and we are looking forward to seeing you!
Craft exhibitors at the festival will include (among many more!) the following:
- Shirley Healing and Wellness
- Cool Craft 4 All
- Ainm Do
- Scroll San Wood Crafts
- Fox Woodturning
- Wooden Name Plaques and Picture Frames
- Slate Creations
- Love Silver Ireland
- Turra Crafts
- Cute Girl Boutiques
- Go Léir Women’s Group
- Grzegorz Fira
- Clayotic
- Fergal Dunne Crafts
- Sonia’s Silver
- Under the Oak Designs
- Handcrafted Fairy Doors
- Mireog