Celebrity chefs lined up for West Waterford Festival of Food

It’s the final countdown to the highly anticipated West Waterford Festival of Food, one of Ireland’s largest and longest running food festivals, which takes place from 14th to 16th April 2023.  

The 3-day festival will feature more than 70 events in the scenic harbour town of Dungarvan, along with nearby Lismore and throughout the West Waterford region and is a bucket list event for food lovers, food professionals, celebrity chefs, food bloggers, influencers and festival goers alike!

Taking part in the programme are a number of celebrity chefs, some with their own cookery shows, slots on day time tv and regular features both in print and on the airwaves. This provides the perfect opportunity for keen eyed festival attendees to spot some well-known faces over the festival weekend!

Amongst the most recognisable names from the small screen who you are likely to spot at his year’s festival are Chef’s Paul Flynn, Martin Shanahan and Mark Moriarty, above, Eunice Power and Aisling Larkin.

Chef Paul Flynn: Owner of the Tannery Restaurant and cookery school is renowned for cooking modern Irish food, is a cookery writer with the Irish Times and has 3 successful cookery books under his belt including ‘An Irish Adventure with Food’, ‘Second Helpings’ and ‘Surf and Turf’. Well known for his appearances on tv, he has helmed his own 8-part series ‘Paul Flynn’s Irish Food Adventures’ as well as appearing on IFTA nominated show Lords & Ladles on RTÉ One with Derry Clarke and Catherine Fulvio, and most recently Paul Flynn’s Food Truck Favourites. [Flynn is a local hero so is often spotted in his home town of Dungarvan, he will also be honoured at the Gala Dinner at Lismore Castle on Friday 14th and will pop up at the Bia not Bluster event which takes place from 11am to 3.45pm at Dungarvan Town Hall on Saturday 15th]

Chef Martin Shanahan Owner of ‘Fishy Fishy’ in Kinsale is well known for his programmes ‘Martin's Mad About Fish and follow up series ‘Martin’s still Mad about Fish’ and for the ‘Surf and Turf’ series which all showcased his love of and skill with seafood cookery.  He is a resident chef on the RTE Today Show hosted by Maura and Daithí and has several successful cookery books to his name. [Shanahan will be at the Bia not Bluster event which takes place from 11am to 3.45pm at Dungarvan Town Hall on Saturday 15th]

Eunice Power is the Festival Director of the West Waterford Festival of Food as well as operating her own hugely successful food businesses. She famously catered for Graham Nortons wedding in West Cork   last year and runs the award winning AndChips which was recently dubbed ‘Irish Takeaway of the Year’. Eunice is a contributor to The Irish Times and a regular on our screens as she cooks up delicious recipes on the RTE Today show. She is even featured in a 4-page spread taking about her love of food in this month’s VIP Magazine! [You’ll pretty much see Eunice all over the festival as she passionately compiled the stellar programme of events this year together with her talented team!]

Chef Aisling Larkin wears many hats, she is a tv cook, food media broadcaster, educator, feeding therapist, mindful eating coach, keynote speaker, and food & wellness consultant as well as operating her own cookery school! You’ll recognise Aisling from her appearances on the Six O’ Clock Show on Virgin Media and from hearing her on Newstalks Hard Shoulder show with Kieran Cuddihy on Newstalk. She has also featured on everything from Today Fm, RTE Radio 1, Evoke.ie, Irish Examiner, Easy Food Magazine, the Sunday Times and more. [You’ll most likely spot Chef Aisling will be giving a Teenager and Young Adult Food Workshop and Lámh cookery demo on the Saturday of the festival weekend, both taking place Walton Park Marquee]

Chef Mark Moriarty is an Irish Chef & TV Presenter 'Off Duty Chef' and 'Beyond the Menu' on RTE One. He is also a Diageo Global Brand Ambassador and produces recipes and content for M&S in Ireland. Mark who hails from Dublin has previously worked at 2 Michelin star level and is a former San Pellegrino world young chef of the year, and is listed on the Forbes 30under30.  A pretty impressive resumé for a 29 year old! [Mark Moriarty is a guest chef at the Tannery on Saturday 15th April]

Other award winning and renowned Chefs taking part in the festival include: Aishling Moore from Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded Goldie fish restaurant in Cork,  Caitlin Ruth Chef and owner of one of Ireland’s best food trucks, Jenny Flynn who is Head Chef at the renowned Faithlegg House in Waterford and Duncan Blair, Head Chef of family-owned award-winning gastropub Blair’s Inn in Cork.

Part of the charm of the West Waterford Festival of Food is how bespoke the festival experience can be. Whether you wander the stalls, dip into a food trail, or pop to an event, there is plenty to whet your appetite. Although many events have now sold out, there is still a chance to book a dining experience,  music at the mart, chocolate masterclass or sustainability themed bus tour with some tickets still available to purchase online, 

The West Waterford Festival of Food is funded by Waterford Council, Waterford Leader Partnership, Fáilte Ireland, and Waterford LEO and would not be possible without the support of sponsors, friends circle and the community.

Pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.   For the full programme, more information, and tickets, see www. westwaterfordfestivaloffood. com/