Participants of the West Limerick Food Series have announced that the inaugural family-friendly Limerick SpringFest will take place on Wednesday 6th April from 1pm - 6pm at the Barnagh Greenway Hub outside Newcastle West, Co Limerick.
The festival is a collaboration of local chefs, artisan producers and food enthusiasts and the culmination of the second phase of the West Limerick Food Series - a comprehensive networking and training programme designed to inspire and develop the food sector and food tourism industry by fostering collaboration between businesses in the region.
Barnagh is part of the Limerick Greenway, a 40km-long walking and cycling route which opened last summer and which connects Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale along the former Limerick to Kerry railway line.
Entry to Limerick SpringFest is free of charge and tickets can be booked in advance via Eventbrite here. From 1pm to 6pm there will be a street food market and craft fayre showcasing the best of West Limerick food, drinks and hospitality offerings available in the area. There will also be a seanchaí telling the terrifying tale of Spiorad Na mBarna along with cookery demonstrations by some of the region’s top chefs - namely Mike Tweedie of the Michelin-starred The Oak Room at Adare Manor and 1826 Adare’s Wade Murphy - guest speakers, and craft making sessions throughout the afternoon.
The confirmed line-up for the Limerick SpringFest includes:
Guest Speaker Michelle Dirks, Food and Herbs and Medicine @ 2pm
Food Demo Mike Tweedie, The Oak Room, Adare Manor @ 2.30pm
Guest Speaker Caoimhin Brosnan, Honey Bee Democracy @ 3pm
Food Demo Wade Murphy, Chef & Patron 1826 Adare (Limerick wild mushrooms on sourdough toast with soft Croom free range egg) @ 3pm
Guest Speaker Jim MacNamara, Spirit of the Woods @ 4pm
Cooking Demonstration David O'Gorman & Tom Flavin (McMahons Wagyu Beef, Ballyhoura Mushrooms, Pandy) @ 4.30pm
A free-range rare breed local pig from Rigney’s Farm in Stonehall, Co. Limerick will be cooked on a spit and available to taste on the day, as well as plant-based specialities from Ciara Brennan of Happy Food At Home. Caroline Rigney of Rigney’s Farm will be serving her own homemade Bacon & Barley Broth from the cauldron on her fire pit, where she will also be making soda farls fresh to order.
As the day moves into evening, from 5pm onwards, Platform 22 at Barnagh Greenway Hub will play host to a ticketed event, Limerick SpringFest Cúrsaí, where some of West Limerick’s best chefs will be cooking and serving a range of snacks that showcase the region’s produce.
The menu for the evening includes a Pig Cheek Croquette and Attyflin Apple and ‘Golden Vale’ Pie from Wade Murphy of 1826 Adare. Mike Tweedie of The Oak Room at Adare Manor will be creating a Fermented New Leaf Urban Farm Beetroot Tartlet with Frozen Horseradish & Royal Belgian Caviar followed by Thomond Gate Whiskey Sour and Manjari 64% chocolate. Dan Sykes from Springfield Castle will be serving BBQ Organic Venison Skewers as well as his signature Ceviche with Pepper Dulse. The meal will end with an Irish Coffee from the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Herbal Teas from Cahermoyle House, and Local Cocktails made with Milk from Bally Goat Farm in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.
Especially for the occasion, participants of the West Limerick Food Series have distilled their own gin in collaboration with Listoke Gin which will be available to sample during the evening. Ron Forrestal of Forrestal Wine Merchants has expertly selected and will present a range of matching wines to accompany each of the dishes on the menu. Stephen Cunneen from Treaty City Brewery in Limerick City will talk about all his brewing techniques and give advice on specific beers to best match the Cúrsaí.
Commenting on the launch of the inaugural Limerick SpringFest, owner of Platform 22 and participant of the West Limerick Food Series, Olive Sheehan said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the West Limerick Food Series showcase, West Limerick has so much to offer, just look at the line-up.’’
Tickets for the Cúrsaí meal in Platform 22 are priced at €50 per person and can be booked here via Eventbrite. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.
