Savour Kilkenny 2015 – The Taste of Success
Savour Kilkenny 2015 was a resounding success for the city. Thousands of people from across the region and beyond travelled to Kilkenny for the ninth festival.
Its biggest festival yet, the Savour Kilkenny weekend saw many highlights including celebrity chefs Neven Maguire and Rory O’ Connell, the specially themed ‘A Taste of Japan’ with Fiona Uyema, fantastic street food, craft beer and banter events and a number of crowded healthy eating demonstrations.
With many attractions for children also, Savour Kilkenny’s Pig Theatre at Kilkenny Castle had queues from morning until night, Weave a Willow fence proved hugely popular as did the famous Irish Conker Championships held as part of the festival on the Parade. Junior Master Chef at Kilkenny Cookery School also went down a treat as did the Young Food Producers Market in MacDonagh Junction.
While the Parade Plaza was buzzing all weekend, the festivities and attractions spread throughout the county with a packed Blogger’s Breakfast with Anne Neary at Ryeland House Cookery School, a sold-out Chocolate Master Class at the Edward Hayden School of Cookery in Graiguenamanagh as well as ScareFest 2015 at Shankhill Castle in Paulstown.
A firm fixture on Kilkenny’s calendar and a major attraction for visitors, Savour Kilkenny was organised by Marian Flannery, Festival Manager, assisted by Carrie Hart who worked with the Festival Committee of Marie Langton, Ian Brennan, Anne Marie Hogan, Martin Rafter and Ger Mullally, Festival Chairperson.
“This year’s festival has been a resounding success” said Marian Flannery, Festival Manager. “We have seen huge growth over the past couple of years in the calibre of chefs, demonstrators and food producers the festival attracts and this year we had people looking to get involved right up to the festival’s weekend. From a sold-out show by Bressie to the popularity and success of demonstrations, food producers and events across the whole weekend, this ninth festival has been fantastic. However, none of this would be possible without the generous support of our amazing sponsors, festival participants, the media and everyone who joined us on social media. I would like to thank all of those involved with the festival as well as everyone who came along and supported the festivities.”
The main Festival Sponsors for 2015 were Glanbia, Thomastown School of Food, Fáilte Ireland, Kilkenny Leader Partnership and the Local Enterprise Office. Events sponsors included Pallas Foods, Dawn Meats, Country Style, OPW, Ulster Bank, the Spanish Embassy, pwc, O’ Hara’s / Carlow Brewing Company, MacDonagh Junction and Goatsbridge Rainbow Trout Farm. Media Sponsors were the Kilkenny People, KCLR 96fm, Easy Food and I Love Cooking.
Exciting plans are already underway for Savour Kilkenny 2016! Watch this space…
