Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival, marking its 40th year, will take place from 10-13 July 2025 in the fishing village of Kilmore Quay. Organised by the Kilmore Quay Community Development Association, this four-day event celebrates the region’s maritime heritage with a programme of seafood tastings, live music, and family activities. Visitors can expect a community-focused experience at the Stella Maris Centre, marina, and local beaches. Tickets for specific events are available via www.kilmorequayseafoodfestival.com or by contacting the Stella Maris Centre at +353 53 912 9922.History and Origins.
The Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival began in 1985, initiated by the Kilmore Quay Community Development Association to highlight the village’s fishing industry and foster community spirit. While specific founding individuals are not widely documented, the festival was established by local volunteers, fishermen, and residents, with the Stella Maris Centre serving as a central hub. John Nunn, the current Festival Chairman, has been a key figure in recent years, guiding the event’s growth. The festival has evolved from a small gathering to a significant annual fundraiser, supporting local projects such as improvements to the Stella Maris Centre and community amenities. Over its 40 years, it has attracted growing numbers, with proceeds reinvested into village infrastructure.
The festival’s early years focused on seafood displays and local music, but it has since expanded to include diverse activities like art workshops, marine exhibitions, and children’s events, reflecting the community’s collaborative ethos. Volunteers, local businesses, and groups like the Kilmore Variety Group remain integral to its organisation, with support from Wexford County Council and sponsors like Green Rebel.
The 2025 festival, running from Thursday to Sunday, offers a varied programme centred around Kilmore Quay’s fishing heritage. The event opens on 10 July at 7pm with a Grand Festival Parade featuring the Wexford Community Samba Band ‘Bloco de Fud Este’ and a ‘Visitors From the Deep’ float, followed by an official opening at the marina at 7:30pm, led by a local dignitary such as the Mayor of Wexford. Key events include:
- Seafood and Markets: Fresh seafood platters are available daily at the Stella Maris Centre, with a fish market on Friday offering discounted catches and cookery demonstrations by local chefs. A display of fish species landed weekly in Kilmore Quay will be showcased, and visitors can purchase seafood kept on ice for convenience.
- Music and Dance: Live music features acts like DJ Bodie and The Wires on Friday evening at the marina, with traditional Irish dancing by the Kilmore Quay Set Dancers and a Céilí Mór at the Cross Roads.
- Family Activities: Children’s events include a Red Moon Creative Arts Theatre summer camp, sandcastle competitions, beach games, and a teddy bears’ picnic by the playground. A Nutty Scientists workshop for ages 4-12 on Sunday, 13 July, from 10:30am to 12:00pm at the Stella Maris Centre offers marine-themed experiments like squid dissections. Kayaking sessions with Sheilbaggan Outdoor Centre are available on Friday and Saturday, requiring advance booking.
- Exhibitions and Competitions: The Wexford Camera Club’s photography exhibition and the Quay Times exhibition run all weekend at the Stella Maris Centre. The Tuskar Marine Modellers display model boats, and a Seafood Platter Prize Competition encourages culinary creativity. A yacht race, “The Celtic Link Challenge,” is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30pm, weather permitting, with a trophy presentation at the Bird Rock Café.
- Community Events: Friday includes a festival lecture by local naturalist Jim Hurley, an artisan food and craft fair, and festival bingo at the Stella Maris Centre. Saturday features a 5k road race organised by Kilmore Athletic Club, and Sunday offers a beach barbecue and raft race supporting the RNLI.
Most events are free, though some, like workshops and kayaking, require booking or small fees. The festival is accessible, with wheelchair-friendly venues and food stalls at the Stella Maris Centre. No camping is provided, but nearby accommodations like Kilmore Cottages are recommended. Visitors should use public transport or park at designated areas due to road closures around the marina. Weather may affect outdoor events, with updates on the festival website or social media.
Attendees are advised to bring cash for smaller vendors, though card payments are accepted at major stalls. The festival encourages sustainable travel, with bus services from Wexford town to Kilmore Quay. Visitors should check www.kilmorequayseafoodfestival.com for the full programme and weather updates. The Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival 2025 offers a practical celebration of seafood and community, set against the backdrop of a working fishing village.
