A Taste of West Cork Food Festival is coming to the islands this September to give visitors a real flavour of West Cork island life
West Cork’s inhabited islands have some great flavours to offer as well as amazing stories to tell, so sign up for events throughout the award-winning foodie festival which runs from 7th to 16th September 2018.
Make sure you book in for what are set to be sell out events!
1. Sherkin Island Barbecue with Derry Clarke
Saturday 8th September: 1pm-5pm
Award-winning chef Derry Clarke will once again be behind the coals cooking up a feast at this annual fundraiser barbecue in aid of RNLI Baltimore’s lifeboat station. Find out more
2. Tarte Tatin Demonstration and Tasting with John Desmond
Sunday 9th September:2pm & 2:30pm (Heir Island)
Enjoy a demonstration and tasting on Heir Island with John Desmond of Heir’s famous Island cottage restaurant. John will share his secrets for making tart tatin in two free demonstrations. Find out more
3. Long Island Discovery
Monday September 10th: 10am-2pm
Reconnect with nature on an island where nature rules, and enjoy a gorgeous home-made lunch after your guided tour!
<Find out more
4. Bere Island and the Great Famine
Wednesday September 12th: 12-2pm
Bere Island – strategically situated as a buffer to the mainland – has an fascinating history that can be told through its stories of food and famine. Learn more on this fascinating guided tour. Find out more
5. Tea and Tales on Dursey Island
Thursday September 13th: 2:30pm-5:30pm
Journey across Dursey Sound to get a taste of life on this storied island which is accessed by Ireland’s only cable car! Find out more
6. The Palette and the Plate: A Guided Sherkin Island Art Tour
Friday September 14th [SOLD OUT]
Explore the links between the palette and the plate as Sherkin Island’s artists invite you into their galleries on a tour as part of A Taste of West Cork Festival 2018.
Find out more
7. Cape Clear Caper
Saturday September 15th from 10:30am – 4:30pm
Explore Cape Clear Island with a local historian and biologist, visiting a local farm and the heritage centre which celebrates the Fastnet Lighthouse before enjoying a delicious meal that ends with seaweed-flavoured ice-cream.
Find out more
8. Wild Weed Feed on Heir Island
Saturday September 15th: 12pm-3:30pm
Learn about the many edible varieties of seaweed found all around Roaringwater Bay with Heir Island resident and seaweed expert Christine Thery. Find out more
9. Explore Whiddy Island: Guided Walk & Lunch
Saturday September 15th: 11am ferry, 4pm or 6pm return.
Join Whiddy Island’s Tim O’Leary for a guided walking tour and a seafood lunch on Whiddy Island – it’s a great opportunity to learn about island traditions and Whiddy’s intriguing military past. Find out more
10. Bere Island and the Great Famine
[REPEAT EVENT] Saturday September 15th: 12-2pm
Bere Island – strategically situated as a buffer to the mainland – has an fascinating history that can be told through its stories of food and famine. Learn more on this fascinating guided tour. Find out more
11. Inspired by the Island: Alicia ní Ghráinne at the Jolly Roger
Saturday 15th September: 7pm-11pm
The Jolly Roger on Sherkin Island, in association with the West Cork Supper Club, hosts an evening inspired by the island’s seascape and landscape. Using local, seasonable and sustainable produce, guest chef Alicia ní Ghráinne with Geraldine Swift, will produce a series of courses featuring, seafood, foraged island ingredients, seaweed and local vegetables.
Find out more
12. Good Things Cafe goes to Heir Island
Sunday September 16th from 12:00pm onwards
Carmel Somers, proprietress of Good Things Cafe, grew up spending lots of time on Heir Island with her family. Join her as she brings her famous food to a place dear to her family’s heart.
Find out More.
And, to stay healthy with all this great food around, why not head a Bere Island parkrun one Saturday morning during your visit?
A Taste of West Cork Festival is the perfect excuse to visit the West Cork islands. For full details of Festival’s island events, see https://westcorkislands.com/calendar.
For the full festival programme which includes events across the region, see http://atasteofwestcork.com
To keep up to date with events on the West Cork islands, subscribe to our West Cork Islands newsletter!