Galway Food Festival’s four-day extravaganza of events during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend will culminate with the spectacular outdoor community feast, Breaking Bread on Easter Monday, 17 April from 2pm to 5pm at Fishmarket Square, Spanish Arch, Galway.
The event is hosted in partnership with Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture and is part of Cruinniú na Cásca - a Creative Ireland initiative of nationwide celebrations taking place on Monday, 17 April, a new annual Culture Day to improve access to cultural events for children and communities. Breaking Bread aims to create a legacy of inclusion, acceptance and collaboration among Galway’s many communities using the theme #thisismyIreland.
This unique event will showcase and celebrate the varied and diverse community groups that are a huge part of Galway’s modern community, through a shared love of food, one thing that all cultures have in common. Several community groups ranging from Lithuanian, Chinese, Mexican and several others, will bring traditional and modern dishes to share with the public.
Speaking about the event, Festival organiser, Heather Flaherty, said: “Community and Food are so closely linked. Every culture and community forms a large part of their identity through food whether during celebration, through tradition and history or simply daily dining rituals. We wanted to explore and celebrate this link by bringing the melting pot of communities and cultures in Galway together to share and learn about the different food identities in Galway. Sharing food brings people together, and there is no better way to close this year’s festival than with a big feast and Galway communities at the heart of it.”
Festival organisers are also inviting individuals throughout Galway City and County to get involved. If you can’t participate in the event on Easter Monday at the Spanish Arch why not host your own Breaking Bread event in your community, bringing together family and friends to share food, tell stories and celebrate food. Share your photos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with Galway Food Festival as a live, shared, interactive experience using the hastags #GalwayFood and #Cruinniu.
Nollaig McGuinness from Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture, added, “Galway’s rich cultural diversity is something we are proud of and want to celebrate. Breaking Bread promises to be a really exciting, colourful and inclusive event bringing all of our communities together through food. We are really looking forward to it and we are encouraging everyone to pop down to the Spanish Arch on Easter Monday to experience this special event.”
Gary McMahon, Creative Ireland Co-ordinator for Galway City, said: “We are delighted to be associated with Galway Food Festival and our colleagues in Galway 2020 to support this first ever Cruinniú na Cásca event for Galway. We come together to celebrate the diverse culinary culture of our city through cross-community participation. It’s going to be a truly participatory and ethnically diverse cultural event.” The cost of entry to Breaking Bread is free and in order to get a plate and join the feast, those interested in attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item as a donation.
One item will equal three tickets to sample the food from participating cultural community groups. Community groups interested in participating can email [email protected]. Galway Food Festival would like to thank its funders – Galway City Council, Local Enterprise Office (LEO ), Fáilte Ireland, Galway County Council, main sponsor Pallas Foods, supporting sponsors and participants without whom the festival would not be possible. Galway Food Festival will run from the 13-17 April. Full Programme details are available at www.galwayfoodfestival.com Follow Galway Food Festival on Facebook and on Twitter @Galwayfood and #GFF17.
