Even more on the menu at biggest yet Taste of Cavan

This year’s Taste of Cavan food festival will be expanded further as the Cavan Equestrian Centre readies itself for in excess of 40,000 foodies off the back of a great 2015.
The festival, now in its fifth year, saw around 38,000 people attend on its last outing and has added a host of new elements to make it more interactive, family-friendly and enjoyable.
The event, estimated to be worth 1.5M to the town, is also aimed at growing the county’s national profile for foodieness with names like Neven Maguire, 'The Best Chef in Ireland’ in Virginia’s Enda McEvoy, Gearoid Lynch and Adrian Martin joining Richard Corrigan, Rachel Allen, Anjula Devi, Eddie Atwell, Maire Dufficy, Shane Smith and Brian McDermott, who also MCs all attending.
The Taste of Cavan runs over the weekend of August 12-13 and one of the many organisers, Majella Tierney of Cavan County Council, says that the event is aiming to “build on all the success of all the people involved from the farmers to the producers to the chefs and volunteers and sponsors, everyone”.
From its time at the inaugural event in the Hotel Kilmore, the festival has grown to such an extent that the only complaint, and a good one to have at that, was that it was so busy last time out. As a result, more space at the centre has to be opened up for this year, which has added a host of new features.
The three arenas will now utilise the full available space with seating for 600 in the demonstration area alone, meaning wider space in the aisles in the first two exhibiting arenas.
“We’ve added a lot this year to create a feel-good factor that reflects the partnership approach of all involved to bring together a really good show for people and we have people from all over coming to exhibit, from Belfast to Cork,” says Ms Tierney.
Among the new features, she explains, are the home-chef competition, the 'inflatable pod’, which will feature intimate food talks and demonstrations, an interactive cooking demo, Brexit debate, the veg and herb garden, a 1916 full-costume themed exhibition, the Cavan Performance Academy, giant slides, play area and Lego workshops for children, pet farm, wine master-class and craft beer and 'gin corner’ and more.
Parking is to be kept free with the novelty road train again in operation to the centre, from Cavan Town, sponsored by the Cavan Chamber.
Companion events in performances, readings, children’s entertainment and live music will also be dotted around the town over the two days.
Daily admission is €5 with children under 12 free and Ms Tierney wishes to thank all the partners and sponsors: Ulster Bank, the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), SuperValu, Bord Bia, IFA, ICA, Liffey Meats, Lakeland Dairies, Cavan Institute, Northern Sound, Fáilte Ireland, National Playday and your very own Anglo-Celt.