Kicking off Ireland’s annual food festival season is the Waterford Festival of Food in  April. First established  in 2009, it’s one of the country’s longest-running food festivals. This year’s schedule included foraging walks, cooking demonstrations, discussions with local chefs such as Zsofia Turmezei and Luis Martin, and guided tapas tours of Waterford-favourites like Bodéga and Union Wine Bar. Plus, the festival’s annual food market in Dungarvan always has plenty of ingredients that you can take home with you. 

Dungarvan and Lismore, County Waterford, April 24-26.   

Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival unites music lovers and food fans in Enniscorthy each May for three days of gigs, cooking demonstrations and good eating. Step inside the free Food Marquee to see award-winning chefs and artisans perform live cooking demonstrations and share helpful culinary advice. Then, treat your taste buds to goods from over 80 local and specialty producers at the Artisan Food Market. And if your little ones want in on the action, there will also be fun, child-friendly facepainting, arts and crafts and cooking demonstrations.   

 Enniscorthy, County Wexford, May 1-3.  

The Burren Slow Food Festival celebrates the joy, health benefits and environmental impact of sustainable cooking and eating. The night before the festival, join fellow diners at the Burren Slow Food Banquet, a four-course meal designed around ingredients sourced from The Burren. On May 10, Ballymaloe Cookery School’s own Darina Allen will officially launch the festival, a full day of cooking demonstrations with eco-minded chefs such as Filip Ondrusek and Asia Mahealani McDonagh, relaxing yoga classes and family-friendly events.  

 Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, May 10.  

Budding chefs from around the world travel to the elegant Ballymaloe House Restaurant and its cookery school in East Cork for courses all year long, but in May, everyone’s invited to learn something new at the Ballymaloe Festival of Food. During the day, feed your culinary imagination at cooking demonstrations by pros like Lou Robbie and Marcus O’Laoire. Then cleanse your palate with a masterclass on how to make the perfect margarita, and enjoy a bit of live music and dancing in the evening.  

 Ballymaloe House Hotel, Shanagarry, County Cork, May 15-17.  

As an island nation, we’ve built a reputation for fresh-caught seafood and locally harvested shellfish. In Dublin, the community in Howth come together every year to celebrate their fishing history at the Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival. The springtime event feels right at home along Howth’s stunning harbour, with bandstands for live music, inflatable slides for the kids and plenty of food trucks offering seafood tastings and other nibbles.  

 Howth Harbour, Co Dublin, May 22-24.   

If you have an ever-growing list of restaurants you’d like to try in Dublin, Taste of Dublin is your chance to experience them in one fell swoop. Taking over Merrion Square for four straight days in June, the festival will be full of food stalls showcasing some of the capital’s hottest restaurants, with spots like Ibile, Daata and Rei Momo already confirmed for this year’s line-up. Explore the artisan market as music fills the air and, if you can, snag a free bench to enjoy your spoils while you people-watch. 

 Merrion Square, Dublin city, June 11-14. 

Celebrating almost every aspect of Irish rural culture, the family-friendly Flavours of Fingal County Show in July has plenty to keep you and the kids entertained across the two days, from equestrian displays and livestock competitions to country music and jiving. The main event is the multicultural food market – with nearly 50 food trucks and cuisines on offer, there’s something for almost every craving, from authentic Greek gyros to sweet churros.  

 Newbridge House and Gardens, Co Dublin, July 4-5.   

Authentic street food and Victorian elegance might sound like an odd pairing, but the Wells Food Fest makes it work. Take in the pristine grounds of Wells House and Gardens while you do a lap of the food market, which includes over 200 Irish producers showcasing everything from local charcuterie to Wexford-made cider. For those looking to learn, there will be several live cooking demos throughout the day, as well as live music. If crowds aren’t your thing, stop by in the mornings when the festival is at its quietest. 

Wells House and Gardens, Co Wexford, July 12.  

Cork city is a great spot for food lovers, but especially in August when the annual Cork on a Fork festival is in town. Almost every street comes alive with guided food tours, free cooking demonstrations, family-friendly activities and even a long-table street feast. Follow your nose through the lively streets and try to decide what you’d like to try next.  

 Cork city, August 12-16. 

It’s hard to beat a barbecue on a sunny day – The Big Grill in Dublin’s Herbert Park kicks things up a notch with smoked dishes from some of best chefs across the globe. Taste Texas-style smoked brisket from Austin’s Michelin-starred la Barbecue, support homegrown flavours with Hera, or try contemporary Chinese barbecue from Hang Dai. Alongside live cooking demonstrations, this year will also include curated tasting sessions from some of the biggest names in grilling. 

 Herbert Park, Dublin city, August 13-16.   

See Naas Racecourse transformed into a food lover’s playground for this year’s Taste of Kildare festival.  Meet local producers and chefs from The K Club, Firecastle and more, experience the county’s vibrant food scene at the food market and watch the pros cook live on stage. In between bites, you can catch live musical performances from local names like the Newbridge Gospel Choir and Spring Break.   

 Naas Racecourse, Co Kildare, August 15-16.

Make the most of the final days of summer at the Dalkey Lobster Festival. The scenic coastal village  transforms into a walkable food and drink paradise for one weekend, with stalls serving luxurious seafood dishes from local pubs and restaurants. With an ice-cold Aperol in-hand, enjoy delicious lobster rolls or opt for a whole plate drenched in hot garlic butter. The two-day festival will also include a mix of vintage sellers, musical performances and a designated play zone for families.  

 Dalkey, Co Dublin, August  (dates to be confirmed)  

From Church Square to The Diamond, Monaghan town will be buzzing with activity for the annual Taste of Monaghan Food Festival. Though the full programme is yet to be released, last year’s line-up teases a wide range of experiences including cooking demonstrations from local chefs, live music and a well-stocked food market offering traditional Irish fare, international dishes and indulgent desserts. 

 Monaghan town, Co Monaghan, August. 

The fEast Cork food festival celebrates the individual and small-scale producers, farmers, fishermen and chefs that contribute to East Cork’s culinary identity. Spread across several locations in the region, each hub will offer conversations with local chefs, markets filled with seasonal ingredients and hands-on activities such as foraging sessions and mixology masterclasses.   

Various venues, Co Cork, September.   

Traditionally, a good harvest was celebrated through community gatherings, live music and great food. Today, the Waterford Harvest Festival in September keeps this tradition alive in several venues dotted around Ireland’s oldest city, including fine dining experiences, honey-making workshops and citywide food trails. This year, to celebrate a popular meeting point known as Ballybricken Green, the  festival is introducing The Old Quarter, which will host live music, storytelling and offer local dishes.  

 Waterford city, Co Waterford, September 4-6. 

Every September, restauranteur and founder Anthony Gray (Eala Bhán, Hooked) invites top chefs and producers to share their expertise at the Taste of Sligo. Here, you can catch daily cooking demonstrations led by famous chefs like Gray himself before making pitstops at all the delicious food trucks. If baking is more your style, show off your cupcake decorating skills at one of their daily baking workshops. Meanwhile, the kids can burn off some extra energy while zorbing or riding the carousel. 

Queen Maeve’s Square, Sligo town, Co Sligo, September 19-21.

Another coastal county that takes their seafood very seriously is Galway. See for yourself at the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, where the full line-up includes guided tours of oyster farms, the World Oyster Opening Championship, an oyster trail of Galway city, and seafood tastings at their Oyster Bar. With your choice of oyster in one hand and a pint of Guinness in the other, you can also catch sailors taking to the waves for a race in authentic Galway Hooker boats known as gleoiteog.  

 Galway city, Co Galway, September 26-28.   

Daingean Uí Chúis (Dingle) in Kerry is home to beautiful beaches, lush fields and rugged cliffs. In an effort to preserve this natural beauty, the Dingle Food Festival in October offers immersive food experiences with a sustainable twist. The festival’s taste trail, which explores local pubs, restaurants, cafés and shops in the area, encourages visitors to bring their own bowl as they go. There will also be several workshops covering eco-friendly topics such as beekeeping and responsible foraging.  

Dingle, Co Kerry, October 2-4.

The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain welcomed the new year with sacred bonfires, feasts, storytelling and other mischief. Savour Kilkenny focuses on the feasting aspect of this ancient harvest tradition, taking over the grounds of Kilkenny Castle for a five-day deep dive into the county’s food scene. In between bites from local restaurants, join big names like Ray O’Neill and Hannah O’Donnell for cooking demos, follow a food tour through Butler Gallery or choose from 100 stalls in the food market. When it gets dark, come together for the family-friendly street party.   

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny city, Co Kilkenny, October 22-26.

Continue the Celtic celebrations in the Home of Halloween at the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture. Taking place in Kells, County Meath, the festival leans into the ancient folklore of the holiday through interactive food experiences. Enjoy a Pagan-inspired feast made with seasonal ingredients at the Samhain Long Table Supper set in an old church. Then swing by a panel discussion with Irish food brands or browse the Sheridans Irish Food Fair. 

Various venues, Kells, Co Meath, November 5-8.