Must-see events for Cork On A Fork Fest

For five days in August, Cork city will transform into a vibrant, exciting festival hub, celebrating the very best of its food and drink culture.

Returning for a fourth year from August 13-17, with a programme that’s bigger and better than ever, Cork On A Fork Fest has become a much-anticipated event in the summer programme for the city.

It’s an eclectic mix of food trails, once- off pop-ups, supper clubs, guest chefs and meet the maker experiences, cocktail shenanigans, peeks into the worlds of brewing and distilling, and events celebrating the multicultural tastes and flavours of Cork.

The festival weekend will again see Emmet Square come to life with a street market, and not one, but two, festival marquees hosting cookery demos, cook-offs, talks and tastings - all free, all day long.

Clodagh McKenna, Aishling Moore, Takashi Miyazaki, Orla McAndrew, Ali Honour and Rob Fitzpatrick are just some of Cork’s best-loved chefs who will grace the stage.

The jewel in the festival’s crown is the VQ Long Table Dinner, set to host 450 this year along MacCurtain Street. Sponsored by Birra Moretti, this spectacular long-table dinner will see 20 chefs from the city’s VQ area curate shared plates for what is always the festival’s hottest ticket. Tickets are expected to sell out fast, so be quick to grab a seat at the table.

Cork On A Fork Fest is a chance to showcase the connection between our great producers and the chefs, bakers, and mixologists who are ionate about ing local in every bite and sip.

Cork’s reputation as Ireland’s food capital is long-standing and well respected internationally as well as at home. In recent years, the next generation of producers and chefs have been working dynamically to lift Cork’s food culture up another level again, with a real sense of pride in what they put on a plate.

Cork On A Fork Fest is all about our distinctive food identity. As a farm-to-fork destination since its origins as a trading port in the 10th century, Cork has led the way in Ireland’s modern speciality food movement, and has more artisan producers than anywhere else in the country. From Atlantic seafood and artisan cheeses to spiced beef, tripe and drisheen, this is a city where food tells a story.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle said: “Cork On A Fork has quickly become one of our city’s most loved festivals, and it’s a true celebration of everything that makes Cork’s food culture so unique - from our ionate producers and creative chefs to our vibrant hospitality scene.

“This year’s programme is bursting with flavour, innovation, and community spirit, and I encourage everyone to get involved, local, and enjoy the incredible experiences on offer across the city.”

So, here are my hot ticket events to make a beeline for at this year’s Cork On A Fork Fest:

Meet The Producers Bus Tour, 2-6pm, Friday, August 15, €95pp: An exclusive Producers Bus Tour hosted by leading Cork food historian, Regina Sexton. Visit some of Cork’s best food producers with behind-the-scenes tastings and insights into their craft. Stops include The English Market, Hanna’s Bees, Frank Hederman’s Tasting Room in Cobh, Ardsallagh Cheese and Killahora Orchard.

Young Chef Collaboration Dinner, 7-10pm, Thursday, August 14, Farmgate Café at The English Market, €80pp: Farmgate Café’s head chef Pamela Kelly invites two rising stars - and friends - of Cork’s culinary scene, Joe Quane and Stephen Cronin, to cook supper in the English Market. Joe began his culinary journey at the Farmgate Café six years ago, going on to work under acclaimed chefs Ross Lewis (Chapter One) and Niall Davidson (Allta). Stephen, a Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador in 2022, works with Dan Geurin at Cush in Midleton. A celebration of friendship, the flavours of the English Market, and the next generation of Cork culinary talent.

International Tea Ceremony and Cooking Demos, 2-4pm, Saturday, August 16, Tea Room and Lecture Theatre, Nano Nagle Place/School of Architecture, FREE: Explore international tea and food, its cultural considerations and stories, at this multi-cultural tea ceremony with Cork Migrant Centre. Enjoy tasters of food and a selection of tea and coffees from different regions.

On The Pig’s Back: Artisan Producers Market, 2-7pm, Saturday, August 16, St. Peter’s, North Main Street, FREE: An On the Pig’s Back curated market bringing together some of the region’s best artisan producers. Sample local cheeses and charcuterie, sweet and savoury treats, and meet some of the makers behind iconic Cork food brands.

Afternoon Tea on the Train - A FoodCloud Experience, Meet at 12.30pm for 1pm departure, Friday, August 15, Kent Station, €35pp: All aboard for a one-of-a-kind experience with a purpose! FoodCloud and Irish Rail on a unique journey celebrating sustainability, delicious food, and the power of food sharing. Enjoy afternoon tea crafted by talented chefs who aim to reduce food waste without compromising on flavour by using surplus ingredients. Travel in style between Cork and Midleton and indulge in a thoughtfully curated selection of sweet and savoury delights while learning about FoodCloud’s mission to tackle food waste and food insecurity.

Breaking Bread: A Cultural Connection, 6-9pm, Friday, August 15, St Peter’s North Main Street, €25pp (all profit to local communities): An immersive food and community experience curated by Chef Orla McAndrew. An evening of flavour and connection where guests taste dishes created by Cork’s vibrant migrant community. Enjoy performances by the Cork Shakespearean Company and other community groups. Breaking Bread celebrates unity, identity, and the evolving spirit of Cork’s rich food culture.

Balance, Beats & Bites with The Yoga Tree and Spice Genie, 6.30pm-late, Friday, August 15, Old Cork Savings Bank, 1 Lapp’s Quay, €99pp: A feelgood evening of movement, wellness, uplifting beats, great food and drinks kicks off with a yoga session set to live beats by DJ Bill, then unwind with a drinks reception of cocktails and mocktails by Moxy Cork’s mixologist, followed by award-winning Indian street food from Spice Genie and wholesome raw treats, all to the sounds of Cork Rebel Brass.

Organised and ed by Cork City Council in partnership with local businesses, Cork on a Fork Fest is ed by Fáilte Ireland, Pure Cork, Cork Airport, Cork Business Association, IHF Cork, the Irish Examiner, and Cork’s RedFM.

With so many more events, visit www.corkonaforkfest.ie to view the festival programme, sign up to the newsletter, or follow @corkonaforkfest on social media for updates.