Ballymaloe Festival of Food
Ireland's newest food festival – May 17th to 19th
Join us for the inaugural Ballymaloe Festival of Food that will celebrate every aspect of the journey of good food from the soil and sea to the plate, along with 60 years of Ballymaloe.
Ireland’s newest food festival will run from the 17th to the 19th of May, celebrating six decades of good food and fine hospitality, renowned in Ireland and beyond,
while also showcasing all that the Irish food and drinks community has to offer today.
World-class chefs from Ireland and beyond will travel to County Cork to take you on a journey celebrating great food from the soil and the sea to your plate This inaugural festival will see three days jam-packed with cooking demos, pop-up dinners, talks, guided tours, walks, producers, craft exhibitors and activities.
Freddy Bird - May 17th
As part of the Ballymaloe Festival of Food, we welcome Freddy Bird for a very special, pop-up dinner on Friday, 17th of May at 7pm. Freddy will join our team and bring a taste of littlefrench in Bristol to Ballymaloe House Hotel for a night.
Freddy Bird is Chef Patron of Bristol’s critically acclaimed restaurants littlefrench and 1 York Place. Bristol-born Freddy first trained at Ballymaloe before embarking on his culinary career in London. In 2019 Freddy and his wife Nessa opened littlefrench shortly followed by a café bakery Littleshop & Pantry in 2020. Together they are the team behind Menendez & Bird Olive Oil, Birdhouse Gin, Buxton & Bird Pies and littlefrench Events. Their latest venture 1York Place opened in December 2023.
Jess Murphy - May 19th
Joining our team as a guest chef for a pop-up lunch on Sunday, 19th of May at 1pm is Jess Murphy of Kai Restaurant in Galway. Jess will bring a taste of her Michelin Green Star, the only one in Ireland to Ballymaloe House Hotel, as part of the Ballymaloe Festival of Food celebrations.
Jess is an award-winning chef and co-owner of Kai Restaurant in Galway. Originally from Wairoa New Zealand Jess moved to Ireland in 2003. After opening Kai Restaurant in 2011 with her husband Dave Murphy, this extraordinary husband-wife team has continuously nourished the souls (and bellies) of all who pass through the doors of their restaurant on 22 Sea Road. With a clear emphasis on community, Jess has made it her mission to provide sustenance through food and friendship.
