Report on 2025 Food Festival

Macroom Food Festival Report 2025

The Macroom Food Festival returned this year with sunshine, smiles, and a strong sense of community spirit. A beautiful morning welcomed traders who arrived in high spirits, ready for a day full of flavour, fun, and festivity. The town quickly came alive with music, laughter, and the enticing aromas of food from near and far.

Sunday kicked off with the ever-popular Kids Cooking Classes, where young budding chefs enjoyed a hands-on culinary experience under the guidance of Chef Inga Luse. The children delighted in learning new skills, and their enthusiasm was a joy to witness.

Families also enjoyed the Family-Friendly Treasure Hunt, organised by sustainable coffee company Fzin and its owner Sofia Kalfa. The treasure hunt added a playful and educational element to the day, highlighting environmental themes in a way that was engaging for all ages.

A regular event of the festival is the SECAD Multiculturalism Through Food event, which brought together 15 different nationalities who cooked and shared tasters of their traditional dishes. The food sampling created a warm and welcoming space for cultural exchange, with everyone engaging in wonderful conversations and hearing personal stories behind each dish. It was a meaningful reminder of the rich diversity within the community and the power of food to bring people together.

Music played a central role in the festival’s atmosphere, the Briery Gap had a full programme all weekend so plenty of variety. On Sunday the main entertainment provided by Finbarr Dennehy and family, whose traditional tunes had the crowd toe tapping and dancing in the streets. Their performance brought plenty joy to both the young and older generations.

Children with brightly painted faces and laughter echoing from the merry-go-round captured the essence of a truly family-friendly day. The festival catered to all ages, offering a vibrant mix of activities and attractions.

The Danone Schools Cook Off was the main competitive event of the day. Judge Mark Doe of Just Cooking Cookery School praised the exceptional quality of dishes prepared by the young contestants. This year’s winning school team came from Mitchelstown, proudly taking home the top prize after an impressive showing of talent and teamwork.

Many craft stalls at the market added an additions layer to the festival, showcasing handmade goods and offering small local businesses a platform to sell and gain exposure. These stalls were a wonderful complement to the food offerings and drew strong interest from visitors.

The festival extended beyond the main day, with many successful events hosted over the weekend by local businesses who generously supported this year’s programme. Highlights included The Mulligan Room’s Latvian Night, Granville’s Jazz Session, Castle Hotel’s Local Produce Tasting Night, and Pop Crowley’s Pop-Up Wine Bar, along with many of the pubs hosting nightly music each adding their own unique flavour to the celebrations.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the many volunteers and sponsors whose hard work and support make the Macroom Food Festival such a treasured event year after year. Their dedication is what brings this vibrant celebration to life and ensures it continues to grow and thrive.

Until next year—here’s to great food, great people, and great memories in Macroom!

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Macroom Food Festival 2025