Get ready to savour the unique flavours of Cork at ‘Cork on a Fork Festival, returning this August throughout Cork City centre. This celebration of food brought to you by Cork City Council and local businesses will showcase Cork’s unique food culture, culinary excellence, dining experiences and quality local produce over five days of food, trails, events, talks, demos and festival fun.
Cork on a Fork celebrates Cork’s rich food heritage, combining local traditions with global flavours. It’s a chance to sample incredible food from the region’s talented chefs, farmers, and producers.
Cork on a Fork Festival is organised and supported by Cork City Council in partnership with local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Pure Cork, Cork Business Association, the IHF Cork Branch, Cork Airport and sponsors.
A 100-seat Festival Cooking Demo Stage on Emmet Place (outside the Cork Opera House) all day with a host of demos and tastings. Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic
Way.
11am: Smokin' Fish with Aishling Moore of Goldie and Sally Barnes of Woodcock Smokery, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
12pm: Summer Alfresco with Clodagh McKenna with book signing
1pm: Cork on a Plate with Brian Murray from The Glass Curtain and John McKenna (McKenna's Guides)
2pm: Tripe International Showdown: Takashi Miyazaki (Japan) V Pamela Kelly (Ireland), hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
3pm: Young Rebel with Natalia Leane (L'Atitude 51) and Zaer Segurini Aref (The Glass Curtain), hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
4pm: Modern Vegan & Vegetarian Food with My Goodness, Paradiso and Meb's Veg, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
5pm: Tastes of Home with Saoirse Ethnic Hands, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book.
Cork on A Fork Talks and Tastings Stage
11.00am - 6.30pm, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Tastings, panel discussions, and masterclasses. Hear fascinating stories from local chefs, food and drinks producers, insights on the local food industry, and more. And there's often a tasting thrown in!
11am: Cork's Food Revolution - with innovators Lullaby Milk, Hanna's Bees, and The Good Fish Company, a live Best Possible Taste Podcast
12.15pm: Liquid Gold - A Celebration of Cork's Blas na hÉireann Award-Winning Beverages, a live Best Possible Taste Podcast
2.00pm: Cork Tapas with O'Mahony's of Watergrasshill, hosted by John McKenna (McKenna's Guides)
3.15pm: In Gut Health – Paul Cotter (UCC, Hack your Health) joins gut-friendly makers BKultured, Sauer, & Phyterberry, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
4.15pm: Raw Treats Demo and Stretches with Hazel from The Yoga Tree
5.30pm: Splitting the C – A Celebration of Cork's Independent Stout Brewers, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book. See Lives Stage and Markets tab for more info.
Raise a Glass to Cork: A Talk & Tasting with Local Drinks Producers
5.00pm - 6.00pm, Saturday 16th August, St. Peter's North Main St
Join Joe McNamee, Senior Food Writer with The Irish Examiner, as he hosts an engaging conversation and tasting with Cork drinks producers. Hear the stories behind the bottles from the makers themselves—the award-winning Kinsale Mead Co., Stonewell Cider, and Rebel City Distillery—as they share insights into their craft, inspiration, and the future of Cork's drink scene. Guests will enjoy guided tastings throughout.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Preserving the Past: Traditional Food Methods in a Modern World
6.00pm - 7.00pm, Saturday, 16th August, St. Peter's North Main St
Joe McNamee, Senior Food Writer with The Irish Examiner, will lead a thought-provoking conversation on the preservation of traditional food practices in modern Ireland. Featuring producers and On the Pigs Back, this talk will delve into the stories, skills, and sustainability behind time-honoured methods of cheesemaking, charcuterie, preserving, and more. A must for anyone interested in Cork's rich culinary heritage.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Sunday 17th
Cork on a Fork Cooking Demo Live Stage
11.00am - 6.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
A 100-seat Festival Cooking Demo Stage on Emmet Place (outside the Cork Opera House) all day with a host of demos and tastings. The events are MC'd by food writers Joe McNamee from the Irish Examiner, John and Sally McKenna from McKenna Guides and Kate Ryan from Flavour.ie. Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.
10am: Down Syndrome Cork Youth Club showcase favourite dishes, hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
11am: A History of French Onion Soup with Rob Fitzpatrick, Market Lane, hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
12pm: Summer Italian Supper with Clodagh McKenna and book signing
1pm: Cork on a... Stick! A Cork Cook-Off, with a Twist, featuring The Farmgate Café, 51 Cornmarket and St Francis Provisions, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
2pm: Street Food Showdown: Lalit Mohan (Desi Bites) and Jerome Williamson (formerly Eco Fish) go head-to-head, hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
3pm: A Celebration of Irish Ingredients and Chennai Flavours with Meeran Manzoor (Rare 1784, The Blue Haven), hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
4pm: The Cheese Makers of Cork; talk and tasting with Hegarty's Durrus and Coolea, hosted by Sally McKenna (McKenna's Guides)
5pm: Rescue The Plate: Cooking with surplus food with FoodCloud, Ali Honour and Orla McAndrew, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book.
Cork on A Fork Talks and Tastings Stage
11.00am-6.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Talks and Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Tastings, panel discussions, and masterclasses. Hear fascinating stories from local chefs, food and drinks producers, insights on the local food industry, and more. And there's often a tasting thrown in!
10.30am: Eating Well As You Age: Expert tips and advice from HSE Health Protection Dietician Fiona Rush
11.30: Workshop on the Sustainable and Healthy Food Strategy for Cork with Cork Food Policy Council, hosted by Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner)
1pm: Italy in Cork with Da Mirco and John McKenna (McKenna's Guides)
2.30pm: Talking recipes with Cork's Blasta Book authors Aishling Moore, Caitlin Ruth, Orla McAndrew, and Eman & Izz Alkarajeh, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
4pm: The Journey of Five Farms and Bakestone with Tastings, hosted by Kate Ryan (flavour.ie)
5pm: Growing Together: Hear from the Cork Community Garden Network and find out how to start your own.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book. See https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-on-a-fork-fest/what-s-on/ for more
