- More than 150 events took place across Cork City over five days with 80 free events
- The festival brought together over 60 chefs and 40 unique dining experiences
- Almost 500 people attended the VQ Shared Table on MacCurtain Street
- Michelin-starred chefs cooked in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and the Goldie Chapel
- International chefs from London and Tbilisi participated in the programme
Cork on a Fork Fest has concluded its largest programme since launching in 2022, with sell-out events and large numbers of people participating in more than 150 events across Cork City over five days from Wednesday 12 to Sunday 16 August. The Cork City Council festival brought together more than 60 chefs alongside producers, growers, restaurants, hospitality businesses and community organisations. Demand proved strong for the festival’s 40 unique dining experiences and major chef collaborations, which included three Michelin-starred chefs, while approximately half of the overall programme remained free to attend.
The festival’s fifth year has continued to expand both its scale, accessibility and city-wide footprint, with this year’s programme reaching new streets, heritage buildings, cultural venues and public spaces. The festival atmosphere was particularly evident across the Festival Zone, which included a pedestrianised South Main Street, Tuckey Street and Grand Parade, as well as Counting House, Counting House Square, Triskel and Bishop Lucey Park. The newly reimagined Bishop Lucey Park hosted its first major festival as the SuperValu Family Zone, with free children’s cooking workshops and talks, food-themed activities and entertainment.
Almost 500 people sat down together on MacCurtain Street for the VQ Shared Table, with a Mexican Wave travelling the length of the table before DJ Stevie G had guests dancing in the street. Michelin-starred chefs Lewis Barker of Terre and Paul McDonald of Bastion cooked in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, while Rob Krawczyk of Chestnut, Aishling Moore of Goldie and Good Day Deli collaborated in the Goldie Chapel at Nano Nagle Place. International links featured chefs from Leo’s London at The Glass Curtain and from Poliphonia Restaurant in Tbilisi joining L’Atitude 51 at St Peter’s for a traditional Georgian Supra.
Cormac Ó Súilleabháin, Director of Services for City Centre Development and Operations at Cork City Council, shared: “We are hugely proud of how much Cork on a Fork Fest has grown in such a short time, with restaurants, chefs, producers, businesses, cultural venues and community organisations all playing their part.”
Cliona Barnes, Director at Cork Business Association, shared: “Cork on a Fork continues to shine an important spotlight on Cork’s outstanding food offering from the English Market to our talented chefs and our incredible restaurants.”
Seamus Heaney, Head of Visit Cork, shared: “Events like Cork on a Fork give visitors another compelling reason to experience the city and wider region while providing an excellent platform to showcase Cork as a leading food and tourism destination.”
