Savour Kilkenny food festival: what it is and how to visit

Savour Kilkenny is a food festival held in late October at Kilkenny Castle and across the city. Discover Ireland describes it as a festival with farmers' markets, chef demonstrations and pop-ups at local places, and it runs over a long weekend. The programme changes every year, so use the festival's own website for the days, times and tickets.

What is Savour Kilkenny?

A multi-day food festival that uses the castle, the city's streets and its places to eat. It combines a food market in the castle grounds with demonstrations and talks by chefs, and events at places to eat around the city. It suits people who want to taste local food, see a chef cook and then eat in the city in the evening.

What can you do there?

The listing describes three main things. The first is farmers' markets, where producers sell cheese, bread, meat, vegetables and preserves, with plenty to taste. The second is chef demonstrations, where a cook shows a dish and explains it. The third is pop-ups at local places and special menus, which let you try a place you might not otherwise book. Some events need a ticket, so check which ones before you travel.

When is it held?

In late October, over a long weekend. Dates move each year, so do not rely on an older listing. Check the festival website for the dates, then check again nearer the time in case the programme changes.

How do you get to Kilkenny?

Kilkenny has a railway station on the line from Dublin Heuston and is served by bus and coach services. By car, it is on the M9 from Dublin. Parking in the city fills at festival time, so use the car parks on the edges and walk, or take a taxi. Check Irish Rail and Bus Éireann for the weekend timetable.

Where should you eat in Kilkenny?

Kilkenny has places to eat, pubs and cafes on the streets around the castle, many of them in historic buildings. Book early for a festival weekend, particularly for dinner. Walk the Medieval Mile between the castle and the cathedral, and look for places that serve local produce.

What to try

Look for local cheese, Irish farmhouse bread, good beef and lamb, seasonal vegetables and baking. Ask stallholders what they recommend, and taste before you buy.

How should you plan the weekend?

Book accommodation first, since Kilkenny is a small city and hotels fill at festival time. Choose the events that need tickets, then leave time to wander. Carry cash for small stalls, and dress for October weather, with a waterproof layer. If you are driving, plan a designated driver for the evening events.

What if you have dietary needs?

Producers and chefs can tell you what is in their food. Ask about allergens, and ask places to eat about options when you book. Irish food businesses must provide allergen information, so you are entitled to ask.

How can Mosey help?

Mosey is a food-first app where diners find places by dish, mood and neighbourhood and rate what they actually ate. A festival page can say when it is usually held and link to the organiser's site, and once an organiser publishes dates it can list the stalls and what each serves. A rating of a dish stays with the stall that cooked it, and Mosey's festivals page lists the festivals organisers have published.

How this works in the app: Food festivals.

More guides to read next:

• How to book a table on Mosey and manage your bookings
• How to join a waitlist or a walk-in queue on Mosey
• How to rate a place and add photos on Mosey

More in the food guides and the ranked lists of places.