Limerick is set to savour the very best of its local food culture this September, with more than 25 events confirmed for the inaugural Linger: Limerick Festival of Food, Heritage and Place, taking place from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026.
The full programme for the new festival has been officially launched by Mayor of Limerick John Moran joined by Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Tom Ruddle. The initiative is supported through the EU Interreg North-West Europe Programme as part of the EU SLOWTOUR project.
Linger will put local food producers and the people behind Limerick’s food culture firmly centre stage, with a programme designed to encourage people to slow down, discover something new and connect with the food, heritage and places that make Limerick unique.
From Friday through Sunday, this celebration of Limerick’s food culture offers a rich mix of dining, discovery and live culinary experiences. Visitors can enjoy everything from a spectacular Long-Table Dinner showcasing the finest local produce to the Limerick Food Heritage Walking Tour exploring the city’s fascinating food heritage and vibrant food scene.
King John’s Castle will become a stage for food demonstrations, bringing together food, history and place in one of the city’s most iconic settings while the dramatic Fire on Nicholas Street experience beside King John’s Castle, will see chefs cook over open flames accompanied by live music.
Linger at Limerick Milk Market brings expert cooking demonstrations, local food knowledge and plenty of inspiration for home cooks.
Food lovers will also have the opportunity to meet the Breadheads - Limerick’s local bakers, and the Brewheads - showcasing the county’s brewing talent, while visitors to Wickham Way can discover how some of the food vendors create their delicious dishes at the Linger International Food Hub.
These are just a taste of the experiences forming part of the inaugural Linger programme, with more than 25 events being served up over the three-day festival.
Sample the full programme at Limerick.ie/Linger.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said Linger is a natural next step following a busy summer of activity across the city:
“Limerick is certainly not slowing down. We are in the middle of a brilliant Summer in the City programme, which is animating our streets and public spaces and giving people new reasons to come into the city, and very soon after that, we are going straight into a brand-new festival celebrating something that is at the heart of who we are - our food.
Linger is about putting our fantastic local producers, growers, bakers, brewers, chefs and food businesses front and centre, while also telling the stories of the places and communities behind them. That ambition is very much aligned with the Mayoral Programme and our work to strengthen Limerick’s reputation for outstanding food and authentic visitor experiences.”
Príomh Chomhairleoir of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr. Tom Ruddle, said Linger would provide a delicious opportunity to showcase the breadth of talent across Limerick:
“There is one thing I think we can safely say we all have in common – we love good food! And Limerick certainly has plenty of it. You might sit down to dinner in the heart of Limerick city but the story of that meal begins much further afield. From our farmers across the county, our artisan bakers, brewers, chefs, restaurants and food vendors, there is an incredible amount of talent and passion right across Limerick.
Linger is a great opportunity to put that talent on the table, quite literally. I’d encourage everyone to come hungry and leave with a new appreciation for the fantastic food being produced right here in Limerick.”
Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly, said the festival had come together through a strong collaboration between the Council and Limerick’s food and hospitality community:
“What makes this festival particularly exciting is the breadth of people and organisations who have come together to shape it. I want to acknowledge the work of the Council’s Festivals and Events team, together with everyone across the city and county who has contributed their time, ideas, expertise and enthusiasm to developing the programme. I invite people to come along, taste what Limerick has to offer and meet some of the people who make it happen.”
Linger: Limerick Festival of Food, Heritage and Place is being delivered by Limerick City and County Council as part of the EU SLOWTOUR project, which focuses on developing inclusive, sustainable and authentic slow tourism experiences.
The festival encourages visitors and locals alike to slow down, stay longer and connect more deeply with Limerick, using food as a way to explore the city and county’s heritage, communities and sense of place.
The full Linger programme with event details and information on how to book is available at Limerick.ie/Linger.