Organisers of this year’s Connemara Mussel Festival on the May Bank Holiday weekend (May 4-6 ) are planning an exciting range of events as the festival takes its place on the Region of Gastronomy calendar.
Visiting chefs chatting and demonstrating at the event include Cliodhna Prendergast, Declan McManus, Jonathan Keane, Keith Carden and Tim O Sullivan.
Among the entertainment acts are‘Rua’ the renowned illusionist and magician, The Curlew Theatre with several adult and children’s plays, and the famous Cois Claddaigh choir.
There will be talks and exhibitions such as a tribute to the memory of poet Richard Murphy; a talk and demonstration from Connemara Smokehouse proprietor Graham Roberts; legal Poitin tasting with Micil Poitin; and Renvyle’s Amy Coyne giving a full account of her trip to the Mount Everest basecamp.
The artisan market will take place on both Saturday and Sunday and is growing in stall numbers year upon year while the athletes and non-athletes are all invited to take part in the 5km fun run.
The popular dawn walk takes place on Sunday morning.Children will all enjoy the pet farm which will be located at the rear of the Renvyle thatched cottages, while the younger kchildren will be entertained by sean nos dancing, storytelling, art and crafts and numerous cookery classes.
Chairperson of the 13th edition of the festival, Gerard Coyne of Paddy Coynes’s Pub is pleased to be leading yet another action-packed festival and he has invited everyone to come along and sample the food and the unique atmosphere.
The pubs in the villages will have music, food and a warm welcome all weekend, and to top off the weekend there will be a Gala Dinner in the Maol Reidh Hotel on Sunday evening.
For more information visit www.connemaramusselfestival.com email [email protected] or find them on Facebook.
