Celebrity chefs Neven Maguire, Rachel Allen, and Kevin Dundon will be among the special guests at this year's Galway International Food and Craft Festival, which takes place in Salthill Park from July 5 to 7.
Organisers are expecting 30,000 people at the event, which will also feature 200 vendors in both the indoor and outdoor food and craft villages. There will be displays from boutique brands, independent brewers, and indigenous crafts. There will also be live cooking demonstrations, health and wellbeing presentations, entertainment stage, a children’s area, and a lunge and chill-out area.
“We will have live entertainment daily from some of Ireland's leading musicians," said festival director Brian Bermingham. "Our dedicated kids' zone, which is free for all the family, will help provide a wonderful weekend carnival experience."
The local Salthill initiative the major local winners from the Galway City Council's 2019 marketing promotion fund.
The fund, which was agreed at the city council's monthly meeting at City Hall at the start of the month, saw the Galway International Food and Craft Festival secure €15,000 after Fine Gael councillor Pearce Flannery saw his motion to give the project an extra funding of €10,000 each was passed nine votes to eight.
Cllr Flannery said; "We need to look at projects with most impact. Galway International Food and Craft Festival are putting in €160,000 and it is an annual event. There is no point putting money in a reserve fund and having great projects floundering."
The project is one of 20 applicants who are to receive a share of the €210,000 marketing fund for 2019, including €17,500 for Connacht Rugby; €10,000 for Galway Comedy Festival; and €20,000 for Macnas Parade.