One of Ireland’s longest running food festivals, the 2023 Listowel Food Fair celebrates its 28th fair this year from Thursday 9th – Monday 13th November 2023. The historic North Kerry town of Listowel long famed for its literary geniuses and culinary delights will once again come alive for a host of exciting gourmet events this November.
Festival highlights include the opening ‘Celebratory Awards Banquet’ with Ireland’s foremost Celebrity Chef and Food Writer Darina Allen at the Listowel Arms Hotel on Thursday 9th November 2023. Darina Allen will also be signing copies of her new book at this event.
The much anticipated 2023 Listowel Food Fair Awards will be presented at this special occasion to include the following categories – 2023 Listowel Food Fair Book of the Year Award, 2023 Listowel Food Fair Local Food Hero Award, 2023 Listowel Food Fair Best Emerging Artisan Food Producer Award, 2023 Listowel Food Fair Food Writer of the Year Award and the prestigious 2023 Listowel Food Fair Lifetime Achievement Award.
RTE Presenter Katie Hannon presents the launch of new book ‘Kathy White House’ by local historian Vincent Carmody at St. John’s Theatre, Listowel on Saturday 11th November 2023. The book tells the story of Listowel woman Kathy Buckley, known locally as ‘Kathy White House’ who was the White House chef to three past American Presidents.
Virgin Media One and Ireland AM’s TV presenter Lizzy Lyons and Celebrity Chef, TV presenter and star of stage and screen Simon Delaney will host a special evening of culinary delights at ‘Lizzy’s Little Kitchen, Listowel’ on Saturday 11th November 2023.
Sarah Browne, Bord Iascaigh Mhara ‘Taste the Atlantic Ambassador’ will host two special events this year. A ‘Shellfish Handling and Cookery Workshop’ in the award-winning Allo’s Bistro, Listowel and a ‘Hands On’ workshop specifically designed for secondary schools.
Health is a big focus for the festival this year with a Health & Wellbeing Seminar presented by leading medical experts on a variety of current health issues. A Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop will be held in the Kerry Writers Museum in association with Breast Cancer Ireland covering cancer prevention, breast screening and breast awareness.Women’s health issues will also be the focus on Saturday 11th November 2023 in a series of health events, including a presentation by leading Menstrual Health and Nutritional Coach Michelle Walsh. Sarah Fitzgerald of ‘The Green Green Gate’ will present a demonstration on Gut and Hormone Health. Mary Thea Brosnan from Kerry Kefir will be discussing kefir in relation to gut and digestive health.
The 2023 Listowel Food Fair Annual Park Run takes off on the morning of Saturday 11th November in the Town Park, Listowel at 9.30am.
This year’s Listowel Food Fair Farming Seminar -In Association with Kerry Group and Teagasc will take place on Monday 13th November 2023 and will address the issues of sustainability, the future of Irish farming and current issues within the Irish farming and agricultural sectors.
A “Sustainability and Food Tourism Seminar” will take place at St. John’s Theatre, Listowel on Friday 10th November 2023 and will bring together key stakeholders from regulatory bodies and representation from Irish ingredient manufacturers on sustainability in food. This year the festival also explores the fast growing area of Food Tourism, its potential impact across the country from the perspective of increasing visitor numbers and contributing to the increase of Irish artisan food production.
New York Author, Poet and Actor Annie Lanzillotto regales listeners with her true and comedic stories from Bronx Italian life in her event – ‘Cosa Mangia Oggi’ – A Taste of Italy in the Bronx, New York. For night owls the Listowel Food Fair offers a host of exciting evening events such as a Whiskey Tasting at John B. Keane’s Pub and a Traditional Irish Music Session at Christy’s The Well.
The very popular “Listowel Food Fair Food & Craft Hall” on Sunday 12th November 2023 at the Listowel Arms Hotel will feature a broad selection of local craft, design and artisan food producers, cakes, craft beers, mulled wine, gifts, gourmet food, jewellery, art, chocolate, jams, chutneys and breads.
With something for all ages and tastes, weekend events this year include the Listowel Artisan Farmers Market, the Listowel Food Trail, an Icing and Decorating Workshop, a Healthy Eats & Treats Workshop, Dine in the Dark Supper Club at Allies Coffee Shop, Bermuda Irish Food Connection and a Live Jazz Sunday Lunch to finish at the Listowel Arms Hotel, all add to a fun filled and jam packed festival schedule.
Speaking about this year’s festival programme Listowel Food Fair Chairman Jimmy Deenihan said: “On behalf of the Listowel Food Fair Committee, we would like to welcome you to the 2023 Listowel Food Fair. The Listowel Food Fair was first established in 1995 and is one of Ireland’s longest running food festivals, now celebrating its 28th year. The Listowel Food Fair has developed over the years to be established as a national platform to promote the literary and culinary town of Listowel as a quality gourmet destination.The Listowel Food Fair is a celebration of all elements of the Irish food chain from farm to fork and tide to table.We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors this year. We would also like to acknowledge the participation of the business community of Listowel including our local tourism and hospitality providers, visitor centers and retail outlets that support this festival each year.”
The 2023 Listowel Food Fair is supported by Kerry Group, Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Teagasc, Fáilte Ireland, Tipperary Crystal, Kerry Local Enterprise Office, Kerry County Council, Garvey’s Supervalu and Eno Wines.
Information on the 2023 Listowel Food Fair is available at
www.listowelfoodfair.ie – Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.ie
Pictured left: Mairead Moriarty Listowel Food Fair Committee, Jimmy Deenihan Chairman Listowel Food Fair, Lizzy Lyons Lizzy’s Little Kitchen, Savstida Harikrishnan, Ellie Mai McMahon, Mia Nolan and Elza Mortimer at Lynch’s Bakery & Coffee Shop, Listowel for the launch of the 2023 Food Fair. Included on right are back left: Conor Slattery Kerry Local Enterprise Office and Billy Keane.
Photos by Domnick Walsh Photography, NUJ, LIPPA, PPAI
