Over 68,000 visitors graced the streets of Kilkenny last weekend as Savour Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s best-established and longest-running food festivals, took place
The public space from the junction of the Parade and Patrick Street, right up past Kilkenny Castle to the end of Castle Gardens was a multinational and multi-flavoured feast of flavours, lapped up by locals, who have made this weekend one for meeting friends. The addition of a special late-evening opening made for a great entertainment-filled bank holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, a series of sold-out dining events from Mount Juliet and Lyrath Hotel’s themed culinary evenings to Arán’s pop-up fine dining event and a climate change breakfast, fronted by comedian and climate author Colm O’ Regan, meant that Kilkenny’s finest restaurants were full for the weekend, while hotel beds were at a premium. Local traders said that the increased number of visitors in the city brought a late autumn bumper spend throughout the city centre.
Chairperson of the voluntary Savour Kilkenny festival committee, Ger Mullally, said the festival had once again managed to surpass all their expectations.
“Saturday was undoubtedly the busiest day ever at a Savour Kilkenny festival as locals and visitors came out in their droves. The stallholders sold out of popular products and were taken aback at the turnout. As always, our focus on local food producers was highlighted in the Monday afternoon event featuring the Matriarchs of Kilkenny food, with festival founders Olivia Goodwillie and Anne Neary joined onstage by Helen Finnegan, Mag Kirwan, Mary Walsh and Julie Calder-Potts. As well as celebrating these women’s contributions, they also issued serious challenges to the difficulties facing existing and new businesses. They pointed to the increasing levels of bureaucracy and the spiralling costs involved.”
Speaking at the Climate Action Breakfast event, Director of Services for Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler, paid generous tribute to the festival committee and its constant ability to re-invent the festival.
“As Savour marks the retirement of Ian Brennan after almost two decades of service to this festival, we are reminded that this festival can only exist because of the drive and determination of the entirely voluntary committee. Ian, like a number of others realised that the twin pillars of an excellent food culture in our city and county, paired with a vibrant festival culture, would lift the city at a crucial time of the year. For the owner of the city’s oldest hotel to recognise the need to innovate and change for the future says it all.”
Festival Manager, Marian Flannery, thanked the small team of staff who worked with her on the project and also pointed to the crucial role of Kilkenny County Council and the local statutory services.
“From the Garda Síochána to the county council staff to the volunteers of the Ballycallan’s St. Brigid’s Camogie Club to the patience and acceptance of local residents, we truly benefit from the community’s support for our event. Our small team of staff and volunteers could not do it without them. Of course, the visiting chefs and producers so professionally give of their time and in such a good-humoured way. The magical MCs Edward Hayden, Siobhán Donohoe keep the events zipping along in the highly entertaining way we have come to expect.
Maybe the most pleasant surprise is the success of Madra Monday, hosted by Connolly’s Redmill’s, and the other events we have included in our extra day on bank holiday Monday. Hundreds of dogs and their owners filled the Parade and it was heartening to have so many visitors seeking more food options on the Monday. This, paired with the emphasis on health and wellness events, saw the festival followers clearly indicate that they are well up for a full bank holiday weekend.
The twin pillars of an excellent food culture in our city and county, paired with a vibrant festival culture, lifts the city at a crucial time of the year. We will immediately begin a review of this year’s event and start to plan for next October as we strive to continue to improve in every way. As Abbaesque sang out on Saturday night in the Castle park, we could look forward to more fun-filled and pleasant gathering days next Autumn.”
