xhosa machiavelli: Northern Ireland's mouth-watering menu of food events

WITH some of Northern Ireland?s best food and drink events set to take place from August to October, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is urging food lovers to prepare their taste buds and follow the scent of fine food in the coming weeks.

Ahead of Belfast Restaurant Week, a citywide celebration of local cuisine showcasing the city?s eateries and gourmet food from October 6 ? 13, NITB has pulled together a list of other tasty food and drink events that are taking place in Northern Ireland including an oyster eating contest, a chocolate filled marquee and seafood cookery demonstrations.

The Annual Harbour Hooley & Festival of Fish in the Co. Down village of Annalong returns from August 15 ? 19 and is a must for seafood lovers with tasting sessions and cookery demonstrations the order of the day.? As well as the focus on the rich seafood available in the area the event also includes the annual raft race, helicopter rides of the Mourne Mountains, comedy and live music entertainment, flower and pet shows and unique events such as the Mackerel Massacre fishing competition.? Continuing the fish-themed celebrations is the Kilkeel Fish Fest which takes place August 24 ? 27 and offers a carnival atmosphere for all the family while boasting a seafood buffet, numerous food and fresh fish stalls, cookery demonstrations, children?s entertainment and oyster eating competitions.

Ireland?s oldest traditional market fair, the Auld Lammas Fair, runs August 27 and 28 in the traditional setting of Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, and once again thousands of visitors are expected to attend the two day fair.? As well as street entertainment, horse trading and market stalls, revellers can sample local specialties such as dulse, a dried edible seaweed, and the famous and deliciously sweet chewy toffee known as Yellow Man.

The Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey Festival, the first of its kind, takes place on September 22 in the famous Co. Antrim town and boasts a full programme of events aimed at providing something for everyone.? Included in the day?s line-up are culinary displays, stage performances,?market stalls, history talks and tours, family entertainment, fancy dress, traditional games and community competitions as well as a stunning fireworks display.

For those with a sweet tooth the Hans Sloane Chocolate and Fine Food Festival makes the perfect day out.? The festival takes place in the grounds of Killyleagh Castle, Co. Down, on Sunday September 23 and will be jam-packed with fun and fine food including a marquee filled with a selection of the best chocolatiers Ireland has to offer.? Visitors can browse the many stalls and taste, nibble and buy an array of goodies.? A dedicated demonstration kitchen will also be running allowing visitors to pick up tips and recipes from the experts.? Activities for children include circus school skills and a chocolate themed W5 stage show.

Set your taste buds alight at the fantastic two-day Taste of Tyrone Food Festival on September 29 and 30. ?Forty local food producers will be laying out their wares with taste kitchens and cooking demonstrations and visitors can see firsthand a range of food crafts including butter churning and apple pressing. ?The Dungannon food event will also boast kids? fun activities and live music for all tastes.

Those wishing to find out more about Northern Ireland food can take part in the Belfast Bred Tour which departs every Friday and Saturday until September 30.? This theatrical walking tour is led by ?Barney?, a chef from RMS Titanic, who has been restored to life following the melting of the iceberg in which he had been frozen.? Barney will take you on an ingredient hunt in contemporary Belfast and recreate the famous ship`s launch menu with your help.? Along the way Barney will introduce the very best of local produce while meeting and chatting to local chefs.

Now in its 20^th year, the Hillsborough Oyster Festival has become an international event that has put the historic village of Hillsborough on the culinary map.? Taking place from September 6 ? 9 the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival attracts crowds of approximately 14,000 people, with visitors from across the world. ?The event famously hosts the World Oyster Eating Championships, with other entertainment and competitions running throughout the weekend too including a family fun day, the Miss Oyster Pearl beauty pageant, a live concert and BBQ and of course the famous Gourmet Food Market where fine locally-produced food and drink is available in the Festival Marquee.

NITB market manager (ROI) Fiona Cunningham believes the array of food and drink events taking place give visitors the opportunity to sample some of Northern Ireland?s culinary delights.

?The food festivals, tours and events taking place will bring together everyone from local producers to top chefs and market traders. ?They provide a great opportunity for visitors to sample the wonderful food Northern Ireland has to offer while enjoying themselves, as each individual event boasts action packed programmes of activities and entertainment for all.?

Visitors planning a trip to Northern Ireland can take advantage of the exclusive accommodation offers available from the NITB Tourist Information Centre which include two nights? accommodation and one evening meal from only ?80pps in Jurys Inn, Belfast, ?75pps in the Kilmorey Arms Hotel, Kilkeel, Co. Down, or ?99pps in the Tullylagan Country House Hotel, Co. Tyrone.

To find out more about Northern Ireland?s events and festivals or for further information on places to stay or things to see and do in Northern callsave 1850 230 230, click on www.discovernorthernireland.com or visit? The Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Tourist Information Centre, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2.

*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

[ends]

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:? For further information, please contact Fiona Brown or Ali Trimble-Rutherford of Duffy Rafferty Communications on 048 9073 0880 or Julie Dunne of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) on 01 4394371.

Download ? Press Release