Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny has something for everyone this October Bank Holiday weekend as a series of events gets underway, all tailored to appeal to locals and visitors alike gathering for the long-awaited Savour Kilkenny festival of food.
As part of its sponsorship commitment to Savour Kilkenny Food Festival 2026, Smithwick’s has developed a unique listing of events that support the festival programme, while also highlighting the unique offering at Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny throughout the year.
On Friday evening, October 23, adults with an interest in history, brewing and heritage really won’t want to miss An Evening of Smithwick’s Stories, Beer and Brewing. The event is a rare opportunity to meet two of Ireland’s most respected beer experts, Steve Gilsenan, Master Brewer and Technical Manager, Beer Operations, and Pádraig Fox, Guinness Global Brand Ambassador, and hear the
stories behind the beers that have shaped Ireland’s brewing heritage.It promises to be a unique evening of beer tasting, brewing insights, behind-the- scenes stories, and plenty of laughs from their years in the Irish brewing industry. Participants will enjoy a guided tasting of specially selected Smithwick’s ales, including a limited-edition beer brewed exclusively for this event, perfectly paired with a freshly baked artisan pretzel. Limited tickets are available on the Smithwick’s Experience website.
Then on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October, the Smithwick’s Bar will be open at the Craft Brewers and Distillers Marquee in the shadow of Kilkenny Castle. Visitors will have the opportunity to chat with the team and enjoy a selection of Smithwick’s ales, alongside exclusive beers from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery.
While part of the Smithwick’s team will be meeting, greeting and serving on the parade, others will be busy back at base with a not-to-be-missed Masters of Ale tour. The premium Masters of Ale is the final tour on both Friday and Saturday evenings at 5.20pm and another must for those interested in the science, history and culture behind brewing. Bookings can be made on Masters of Ale Tour – Savour Kilkenny.
Music lovers too will revel in the special Barrel Yard Sessions, the perfect place to unwind and meet with friends after a day out at Savour in the city. On Saturday, 24th October, the Bad Moon Blues Band will perform from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The four- piece blues and rock powerhouse will deliver high-energy performances, classic riffs, and a dynamic live show that is guaranteed to get the crowd going.
Excitement is building as just two weeks remaining until we celebrate 20 years of the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival, as it takes over Ireland’s Medieval Capital from 22nd to 26th October 2026.
At the heart of the weekend, running on Saturday and Sunday, is the vibrant Festival Quarter
set along The Parade and Castle Road against the iconic backdrop of Kilkenny Castle. The area
will host a massive market with over 100 artisan food producers and street food vendors from
across the country. Visitors can explore the bustling Savour Market, step inside the Food
Producer Pavilion to sample handcrafted treats and emerging artisan brands, or visit the ever-
popular Craft Brewers and Distillers Marquee.
The Festival Quarter will also feature non-stop culinary inspiration from some of Ireland’s top
and emerging talent and family entertainment. The Savour Stage and Taste Stage will host free,
interactive cookery demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday featuring renowned chefs,
local talent, and food champions. Families can enjoy live music from the Caravan Extravaganza
with DJ Cleveland Mike, street stilt walkers, face painting along Mayor’s Walk, and the
interactive Déise Medieval Village in the Castle Yard all weekend long.
Family food lovers won’t want to miss the Avonmore Family Favourites stand as it returns to
showcase the comforting, everyday kitchen staples that make everyday this good.
Highlighting this deep-rooted partnership, Jim O’Neill, Chief Operating & Consumer Officer at
Tirlán, shared:
“Tirlán and our consumer brand Avonmore are proud to continue our support for Savour
Kilkenny, an important celebration of food, local enterprise, and community in the heart of
our home city. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Avonmore stand in the
Festival Quarter on the Parade, where they can engage with one of Ireland’s best-known
food brands and enjoy the activity across the festival weekend. As a business with deep
roots in Kilkenny and strong connections with farming communities, we are delighted to
play our part in supporting this much-loved festival and helping to showcase the people
and businesses that contribute so much to the region.”
To round out the long weekend, Savour Monday (October 26th) offers a more relaxed Bank
Holiday atmosphere on The Parade featuring a scaled-back 30-stall artisan and street food
market with family entertainment. Dogs and their owners can also join in the fun for Madra
Monday, proudly presented by Connolly’s RED MILLS, featuring dog-friendly activities, expert
advice, canine competitions, and fun treats for four-legged companions.
The full 2026 Savour Kilkenny line-up features a star-studded gathering of Ireland’s top culinary
talent across the weekend, including Rachel Allen, Kevin Dundon, Rory O’Connell, Eunice
Power, and Edward Hayden. Beyond the free festival stages and market stalls, ticketed highlights include exclusive dining events and high-demand entertainment like the Castle Park
Concert featuring Robert Grace and Oasis tribute act Morning Glory. With limited availability for
many ticketed dining experiences and special events, tickets are going fast, food lovers are
urged to secure theirs soon!
For the full festival programme and ticket information for special events, visit
www.savourkilkenny.com.
As Savour Kilkenny prepares for its landmark festival from 22nd to 26th October 2026, Ireland’s premier culinary festival is offering a schedule beyond its famous cooking stages and bustling market stalls. This year’s programme features a comprehensive collection of expert-led talks, historic and culinary walking tours, creative masterclasses, living history villages, and dedicated family-friendly and sensory-inclusive spaces designed for all ages.
Festival goers can choose from many culinary and Samhain inspired tours including the Savour the City Food Tour with Kilkenny Food Tours, the Tales of Samhain Walking Tour with Shenanigans Walks, the Herbal Walking Tour with Lucy Glendinning, and the Culinary Art Tour of Butler Gallery with Clare Anne O’Keefe. Talks include Sustainable Agriculture Kilkenny Chamber Chat in the Ormonde Hotel, From Ancient Roots To Modern Plates in Rothe House, or examine food systems at Local Food: Can We Shape Our World? with The Little Green Grocer. For those looking for hands-on workshops, the festival offers the Cake Decorating Workshop with Baked Sweets, the Sip & Savour: Lino Print Tote Bag Workshop with Blaise Butler, Coffee Cupping Night with Badger and Dodo at Tower and Castle, Paint & Sip with DillyDreams Designs, Still Life – A Seasonal Journaling Workshop with Joanna Bourke Lawlor, and a cooking demo with Hey Pesto at KutchenHaus.
For young bakers can roll up their sleeves at the Crazy Cookies Workshop at Cakeface, while creative kids can dive into Pottery Painting Fun, Clay Creations Workshop, and Veggie Printing, which turns fruits and vegetables into custom patterns on reusable bags with The Happy Pottery. Families can participate in the collaborative Kilkenny’s Food Story Mural & 20th Anniversary Tablecloth community project, enjoy daily Face Painting at the Mayor’s Walk.
For young history lovers, the festival welcomes the Déise Medieval Village to the Castle Yard on Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th from 10:30 am to 4:30pm, letting visitors step back 1,000 years to experience early-to-mid medieval Irish heritage, crafts, and ancient cooking traditions.
Additionally a sensory area, situated at the Shee Alms House on Rose Inn Street provides a calm, structured, and supportive environment for children and individuals with additional sensory needs to enjoy the weekend at their own pace, pre-booking is essential.
While entry to the main Festival Quarter, which hosts the Savour Market, Savour and Taste Stages, is completely free, pre-booking is strongly advised for dining and drink events, talks, tours and workshops, as capacity is strictly limited and tickets are selling fast. To view the full 2026 festival schedule, check event timings, and book tickets, visit savourkilkenny.com.
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival returns from October 22nd to October 26th, 2026, bringing an extraordinary lineup of culinary experiences and dining events to Ireland’s medieval capital. Spanning five days, this year’s dining highlights the rich food heritage of Kilkenny while offering visitors immersive gastronomic storytelling. The crown jewel of this year’s dining events is A Samhain Medieval Feast, hosted at the 17th-century Rothe House & Garden.
Taking place on both Friday, 23rd October, and Sunday, 25th October at 7:00pm (€110pp), A Samhain Medieval Feast invites guests to step back in time to the golden age of Kilkenny’s merchant history inside the historic Rothe House. The four-course interactive long-table dinner begins with medieval-inspired cocktails in the firelit courtyard. The menu incorporates local artisan produce paired with exotic spices from historic trade routes, fire-roasted pork with root vegetables, and a Samhain-inspired dessert referencing Kilkenny’s rich folklore and history.
“Bringing Medieval life to the table at Rothe House allows us to celebrate Samhain and the end of harvest in a unique and historic setting,” said the event curator Clare Anne O’Keefe. “From courtyard cocktails by firelight to a feast that uses the garden as a living larder, this experience celebrates the warmth, folklore, and culinary heritage of Samhain at its very origin.”
The festival opens on Thursday, 22nd October, with international flavours and craft brew pairings, including the day-long Two Cultures, One Table: Experience Polish-Irish Fusion at Coffee Date in Irishtown, evening Brewery Bites & Tastings at Sullivan’s Brewery, and A Taste of Goodly in the Autumn at The Goodly Barrow Museum & Cafe.
Friday, 23rd October, steps up the culinary offerings with a landmark evening of fine dining and thematic feasts. Guests can experience A Taste of South Africa at Lekker Food Collection in Thomastown, the luxurious Winemaker’s Dinner at The Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate (final seats now remaining), Smoke, Sip & Savour at Paris Texas, and The Devil Wears Prada at Lyla’s, alongside the opening night of the flagship medieval feast.
Celebrations continue into Saturday, 24th October, with a daytime emphasis on global and communal dining, featuring the Global Kitchen: A Taste of Somali at the Kilkenny Home Rule Club, Georgian Afternoon Tea at Butler House, and two sittings of Tower & Castle Tapas Night. The evening brings further highlights, including Irish Dinner, Dancing & Music at Kyteler’s Inn, The O’Malley Shared Table at Butler Gallery, and a second night of South African specialties in Thomastown.
The festival concludes on Sunday, 25th October, with grand long-table events and iconic supper clubs, featuring A Celebration of the Supper Club Series at Statham’s Restaurant, the 1786 Long Table Dinner at Butler House, additional tapas sittings, and the final night of the medieval feast.
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival over the October Bank Holiday weekend, running from Thursday, 22nd October to Monday, 26th October 2026 across Kilkenny City. The Festival Quarter returns on Saturday and Sunday of the festival to host over 100 artisan food vendors, live demonstrations on the Savour and Taste Stages, a Craft Brewers & Distillers Marquee, and family entertainment.
Tickets for all dining events are on sale now, with limited capacity across venues, for more information visit, www.savourkilkenny.com
Savour Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s premier food festivals, returns this October bank holiday weekend from October 22nd to October 26th, 2026. At the absolute heart of the Festival Quarter on The Parade, the iconic Savour Stage and Taste Stage will host an extraordinary weekend of free-to-attend culinary demonstrations, expert talks, and a live podcast recording. The Savour and Taste stages will take place on Saturday and Sunday of the festival, bringing together Ireland’s most celebrated culinary talent, Michelin-starred chefs, artisan producers, and emerging food talents.
The epicentre of the festival action, the Savour Stage, will be expertly guided by fan-favourites Edward Hayden and Siobhan Donohoe, who will entertain crowds with their signature wit and expert insights. Saturday, October 24th highlights feature Michelin-starred talent Tom Comerford (Hunter’s Yard at Mount Juliet Estate), 2026 Irish Food Personality of the Title Eunice Power with Tesco, Asia Market Managing Director Eva Pau, Ballymaloe Co-founder Rory O’Connell with Avonmore, healthy food advocate Sophie Morris, bestselling cookbook author Sarah Butler, and award-winning pastry chef Shane Smith with Gem. Sunday, October 25th features Stephen Murphy & Aymeric Decourval (The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet), social media sensation Little Lou Cooks, renowned cook and teacher Rachel Allen, Dunbrody House Hotel proprietor Kevin Dundon with SuperValu Loughboy, social media baking star Orla Drumgoole (also known as Irish Mammy Cooks) with Gem, festival favourites Edward Hayden & Anne Neary, and zero-waste TV chef Erica Drum with Campion Insurance.
On Saturday, October 24th, during Savour the Night, where the festival quarter remains open until 9pm with support from Kilkenny’s Night-time Economy Fund, festival-goers can book tickets to attend the Podcast & Pints, a live podcast with James Kavanagh and William Murray sponsored by O’Hara’s on the Savour Stage. Tickets are €10 plus booking fee, include a pint of O’Hara’s from the Craft Brewers and Distillers marquee, pre-booking is essential.
Adding an extra layer of excitement for food lovers, the festival will host exclusive book signings at the Savour Reception located between the Savour and Taste stage entrances. Festival-goers will have the unique opportunity to meet celebrated culinary authors face-to-face, purchase signed copies directly from them, and chat about their latest releases. Featured authors hosting dedicated signings include Eunice Power with her new book My Irish Kitchen Table, Eva Pau with her debut Eva’s Asian Kitchen cookbook, Sophie Morris with her healthy eating titles including Sophie’s Swaps and Sophie Swaps Homemade Wins, Sarah Butler showcasing her popular home cooking and collection of titles such as Batch Cooking, and Orla Drumgoole (Irish Mammy Cooks) with The Irish Mammy Cooks Cookbook.
MC’d by Kilkenny native Tracie Daly, the Taste Stage shines a spotlight on rising culinary stars and local Kilkenny produce. Every participating chef is challenged to put local produce centre stage by incorporating ingredients from at least one Kilkenny food producer and sourcing a minimum of one-third of their ingredients within a 20-mile radius. Saturday highlights include organic farmer Mairéad Phelan, entrepreneur Ben Flanagan, award-winning Chilean-born chef Rodrigo Gonzalez (Tābú Tapas), Eimear Brazil (The Kitchen Shift), Alice Tevlin (RUA Foods), and Ben Davis (Butler House). Sunday highlights feature pastry innovator Mairéad Finnegan (Roll It Pastry) sharing her retail expansion blueprint alongside the Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office (this is a free event but ticketed), wild food expert Thien Laitenberger, pizzaiolo Reggie White, regenerative agriculture champion Siobhán Hubbard (Newbard Farm), Michelin-star pastry chef Elizabeth Dunphy, and culinary cousins Tamsin & Scarlett Allen.
All cookery demonstrations on the Savour and Taste Stages are free to attend, with entry operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Demonstrations are very popular, and attendees are advised to arrive early to secure a good spot for their favourite chefs. Visitors can also experience the 100+ stall Savour Market, the Craft Brewers & Distillers Marquee brought to you by O’Hara’s, and the Artisan Food Pavilion right against the stunning backdrop of Kilkenny Castle. For the full festival timetable, booking tickets for exclusive dining events, and more information, visit www.savourkilkenny.com.
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival has officially announced the return of the much-anticipated Castle Park Concert. Taking place on Saturday, 24th October 2026, in the scenic grounds of Kilkenny Castle Park, the evening promises a spectacular night of live music featuring homegrown hitmaker Robert Grace and premier Oasis tribute act Morning Glory.
The concert kicks off at 6:30pm with a performance by Kilkenny’s own local star Robert Grace, bringing his popular pop tracks and dynamic stage presence to his hometown audience. Following Grace, headlining act Morning Glory will take the stage for an action-packed performance, delivering iconic 1990s rock anthems and classic singalongs in the heart of Kilkenny City.
Event organisers have confirmed that the concert will run for approximately 90 minutes, with gates opening at 6:00pm and entry strictly via Castle Road.
Tickets officially go on sale on Monday, 7th September 2026, at 12 noon. Individual tickets are priced at €12.50 plus booking fee, with a special family ticket available for €40.00 plus booking fee covering two adults and two children. With ticket numbers strictly limited and high demand expected, organisers strongly advise marking calendars and booking early to avoid missing out with the event selling out in 30 minutes in 2024 and 2025.
For ticket purchases and full programme details across the festival weekend, visit www.savourkilkenny.com.
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival was officially launched on Friday evening during a milestone gathering at Butler Gallery. Bringing together food producers, local businesses, special guests, and festival supporters, the celebration marked two decades of showcasing the very best of Kilkenny’s vibrant culinary scene on an international stage.
MC’d by Chef Edward Hayden, the launch event featured key addresses reflecting on the festival’s remarkable journey since its inception. Speakers included Mayor Andrew McGuinness, Cathaoirleach Joe Malone, and Festival Director Marian Flannery, all of whom highlighted the festival’s evolution into one of Ireland’s premier food festivals.
The evening concluded with an address from Ger Mullally, who announced that he will be stepping down as Chairperson following the conclusion of the 2026 festival, capping off 18 years of dedicated leadership to Savour Kilkenny.
A central highlight of the launch was the formal recognition and presentation honoring Savour Kilkenny’s founding 2006 committee. The trailblazing group comprisingPaddy Friel (RIP), Olivia Goodwillie, Noel McCarron, Rhoda Nolan, Mark Gaffney, Anne Neary, Eugene McSweeney, Alma Feely and Kayrin Connery, was celebrated for its original vision of bringing Kinsale’s famed food culture model to Kilkenny.
“Reaching 20 years is a huge testament to our founding committee, our dedicated board and team, and the extraordinary food producers of Kilkenny,” said Marian Flannery, Festival Director. “This year’s line-up is our most exciting yet. With the additional support of Fáilte Ireland’s Strategic Festival Fund, we have been able to bring further animation to the concepts of harvest and samhain across Kilkenny, and we are thrilled to welcome everyone to celebrate this monumental anniversary with us in Ireland’s Medieval Capital.”
Taking place from October 22nd to October 26th, 2026, the 20th anniversary festival will feature over 90 events across Kilkenny City and County. Highlights include the iconic Festival Quarter hosting live cookery demonstrations, the Savour Market and Artisan Food Pavilion, the Craft Brewers and Distillers Marquee, and dynamic family entertainment throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets Now On Sale
Tickets for all ticketed events including exclusive dining experiences, drinks tastings, expert talks, interactive workshops, and culinary tours are now officially on sale. Organisers advise booking early, as several high-profile dining and workshop events are already selling fast.
For full programme details and ticket purchases, visit www.savourkilkenny.com.