Ross Lewis, master chef and proprietor of Michelin-starred Chapter One restaurant in Dublin’s Parnell Square will be the Guest of Honour at the 2011 Féile Bia na Mara, Achill Island’s popular seafood festival. It will begin on Thursday July 15 with complimentary oyster tasting in the local pubs and restaurants and finish with the always entertaining Achill’s Got Talent on Sunday July 17. There will be a host of activities and events in between to enjoy.
Lewis will officially open the festival at the Gala Seafood Banquet in Ostán Oileann Acla on Friday July 15, where guests will enjoy every imaginable type of seafood and live music and dance into the small hours. Tickets are highly sought-after, so to reserve a place at this mouth-watering event ring Achill Tourism at 098 20400.
Seafood cookery demonstrations will take place over the weekend in Gielty’s Clew Bay, Dooagh, and Lewis will take the stage on Saturday at 4pm, when he will cook some of the 34 species of fish to be found around Achill’s coastline and answer questions from the audience.
Seaweed safaris, fish markets, coastal walks, family sand castle competition, cailín óg agus buachaill óg, sea life workshops and a sea safety exercise by the Achill RNLI Lifeboat, Achill Coastguard Helicopter and beach lifeguards are just a flavour of what is on offer over the weekend. More adventurous walkers can make their way to the peak of Croaghaun to see the highest sea cliffs in Europe and experience the Atlantic breakers pounding on the rocks more than 2,000ft below.
Féile Bia na Mara aims to promote local seafood, marine activities and water safety awareness, and to celebrate the cultural heritage of Achill Island and the Gaeltacht. The weekend of fun and feasting is supported by Fáilte Ireland.
