This upcoming May Bank Holiday Weekend is set to hold a tantalising festival filled to the brim with mussels and much more fishy delights as the annual Connemara Mussel Festival takes place from the 4th – 6th of May in Tullycross, Renvyle, Connemara as part of the Region of Gastronomy 2018 event calendar.
The Connemara Mussel Festival is a celebration of the people, food, culture and heritage of north-west Connemara.
The festival, on the Wild Atlantic Way, is a feast for the senses for locals and visitors: taste beautifully cooked local produce, see unparalleled views of the magnificent Connemara landscape: hear sounds of music, dancing, talks and theatre; feel the atmosphere and most of all, enjoy the experience.
The idea for the Connemara Mussel Festival which is to celebrate it’s 13th year this year began in Paddy Coyne’s Pub,
We were sitting is St Ann’s, in Paddy Coyne’s Pub, one evening in the spring. The fire was lit, and a few pints had been pulled. One of the local lads walked in with a bucket. He had been out on the strand at spring-tide that day, and had a feed of shellfish to show for it. ‘Any chance of a feed,’ he said presenting the pail of shellfish. So we threw on a feed in the kitchen and with a splash of garlic, olive oil and cream, had a fine feast. A session started up and more joined in as the craic built. It was one of those nights where you don’t expect anything to happen, and next you know, the session is in full swing!”
Food lovers are in for a real treat this May Bank Holiday weekend with some of the country’s top celebrity chefs providing live cooking demonstrations.
Over the weekend some of the finest chefs in the country will showcase their culinary skills in a variety of demonstrations. There will also be cookery competitions for amateurs, celebrities and student chefs from GMIT.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘A Taste of the Atlantic’, with Jacinta Dalton, Fáilte Ireland Food Ambassador, Lecturer at College of Tourism & Arts, GMIT will be hosting a workshop for children and there will be a series of walks and talks focusing on the coastal community off the beautiful Renvyle Peninsula which offers spectacular views of the Hills and coast of Connemara in Galway.
The Connemara Mussel Festival aims to highlight the wealth of top quality seafood available on their shores and showcase some of the finest mussels as well as a selection of other fishy delights.
All are welcome to come and enjoy the treasure trove of local produce which demonstrates Connemara’s growing reputation as an exciting food destination.
For more information on the full programme visit www.connemaramusselfestival.com.
