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Launching this year’s Tralee Food Festival which takes place from May 19-21, were Festival Directors Ken Murphy and Oliver Hurley with organising committee members Ken Tobin and John McCarthy at the Island of Geese. Photo by Dermot Crean
AFTER the resounding success of the 2023 Tralee Food Festival, this year’s exciting event will take place from Friday to Sunday, May 17-19.
The organising committee comprising Ken Tobin, John Mc Carthy and Mary Mc Quinn along with festival directors Oliver Hurley and Ken Murphy is gearing up for an action-packed weekend.
The committee’s second year at the helm, the group hopes to build on the success of last year’s achievements and elevate the festival for both locals and visitors to the town of Tralee.
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The 2023 festival highlighted the Island of Geese, Domnick Street and the Square areas of the town with exciting additions of the Abbey Car Park and Garvey’s Indoor Market being added this year.
The newly named area ‘Sound Bite’, located in the Abbey Car Park will focus on food trucks and live music showcasing a variety of local music and entertainment until 10pm on the Friday and Saturday night.
Local artists and bands such as Noel McAuliffe & Shane Murphy, the renowned Killarney Pianoman Jack Patrick Healy, Aftershock the Band and Tralee Musical Society all hope to rock the Sound Bite stage over the weekend.
“We are delighted to introduce a new zone to the festival programme this year, we feel that ‘Sound Bite’ will give visitors another area to catch up with friends, grab a bite, have a dance and enjoy local talent at its finest” said Ken Tobin, Tralee Food Festival.
Garvey’s Indoor Market will showcase delicious samples of fresh local produce as well as a BBQ Demo from Award Winning Chef Mark Doe who promises to get you BBQ ready for summer!
This year’s festival itinerary incorporates a World of Food Section, Kids Zone, Workshops, Demonstrations, Food Trucks, Market Traders, Live Music, an amazing Taste Trail as well as a ‘Celebrity Cook Off’.
Tralee Food Festival Committee Member Mary Mc Quinn said; “It was crucial for us to retain what people enjoyed about the festival last year and expand on that this year. In line with our commitment to supporting local businesses and promoting sustainable practices all of our workshops and demonstrations will be offered free of charge.
“We believe it’s important that local businesses have the opportunity to tell their story, showcase their produce and ultimately gain new customers. It all feeds back into the circular economy, reducing our carbon footprint while looking after our local businesses. At this point we would also like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors, without them this festival would not be possible.”
Sponsors include: Cara Credit Union, Calor, John Lane & Sons, Kerry County Council, Lee Strand, Garvey’s Super Valu, Yummy Cafe, John Doughs, Rural Food Skillnet, O’Shea Insurance Brokers, Higgins Waste & Recycling Services, The Ashe Hotel, ef Signs, Total Cleaning Supplies, Clifford’s Cash & Carry, Convivium, McCaffrey’s, The Brand Geeks, The Rose Hotel & Mike Williams IT Support.
For a full programme of events and more information on this year’s Tralee Food Festival visit www.traleefoodfestival.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook & X.
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