GET IN ON THE ACT! Flavours of Fingal Festival announces spectacular line up for Foodies, Farmers and Families!

Find out more on the Flavours Event Page

Flavours of Fingal, Dublin's biggest and most vibrant county festival, is proud to announce the line-up for this year’s action-packed show in Newbridge House & Gardens, Donabate on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July.

Attracting an average of 80,000 visitors every year, Flavours of Fingal is the flagship summer event hosted by Fingal County Council.

This year’s extravaganza combines the popular farming, equestrian, music and dancing showcases with new attractions including a circus tent featuring performers from the Broken Theatre Company, the Wellness Lawn, Dog agility competitions and Dublin’s Coast and Fields Food Market.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Howard Mahony said; “The eagerly awaited Flavours of Fingal Festival is a real celebration of the region's rich culinary heritage and thriving farming community. It perfectly encapsulates the Fingal motto ‘Flúirse Talaimh is Mara’, rich in land and sea, reflecting the centuries of farming, and fishing the area is famous for. We are delighted to be in a position to host this fantastic event again this year. From the farmer’s field to the food market to live music, show jumping, dancing and wellness; the festival promises to have something of interest for everyone”.

Highlights of the festival include:

Farmer’s Field: hosted by the Fingal Farmers Group, this area will highlight the best of farm animals including cattle classes, sheepdog trials, alpacas, sheep and pigs. Traditional farming methods and techniques will be demonstrated alongside some of the most modern, state-of-the-art farm machinery. It’s not all animals and tractors, join our instructor Patricia for social dancing with lessons in Jive, Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Line Dancing!

The Horticulture Tent organised by Fingal Horticulture Society will host Flower & Gardening Demonstrations, 80 competition classes from flowers to vegetables to home baking, seed sowing, hanging basket & container gardening, plant propagation, and a series of workshops with expert gardeners including Christopher White, multiple medal winner at Chelsea Flower Show and Bloom.

Dublin’s Coast & Fields: Explore the bustling food market from Dublin’s Coast & Fields, brimming with stalls featuring an array of delicious, locally sourced produce. From freshly harvested fruits and vegetables to artisan cheeses, seafood and bread, visitors can sample and purchase an assortment of delectable treats. Some of the local producers taking part include An Bácús Beag, Feisty Ferments, McNally Family Farm and Country Crest. Take a seat and watch cookery demonstrations with top local chefs, including Declan McManus of the King Sitric restaurant, Howth who will showcase the wonderful seafood caught around our coast.

Family Fun Zone: The festival is a family-friendly event, with a dedicated Kids Zone, in partnership with Keelings, offering engaging activities for children. Activities will include theatre and circus skills, arts and crafts, magicians, puppet shows and traditional games. There is action and entertainment for children of all ages. But there is also a quiet zone for children and families who need a little space during a busy day out.

Wellness Lawn: another new addition to the festival this year is exercise and wellness for all ages. Join local expert instructors on the lawn for free Yoga, Pilates, DanceFit, family fun fitness and strength and conditioning classes.

Equestrian Showcase: Hosted by Fingal Harriers, professional Irish horse riders will compete in top competitions including the Mervue Amateur, speed classes, RDS Dublin Horse Show qualifiers and the Joe Duffy BMW National Grand Prix. Ringside seating will be available to cheer on the fantastic competitors.

Live Music and Entertainment: Enlivening the festival atmosphere, there will be live music performances in the Walled Garden and Front of House featuring local talent along with Irish and ballroom dancing.

John Quinlivan Director of Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development of Fingal County Council added; “Sustainability is always a key consideration when it comes to large events like Flavours of Fingal. As part of our Sustainable Fingal campaign, we’re doing all we can to encourage people to use public transport, where possible. We are delighted to offer free admission to the event for visitors who arrive on foot, by bike, shuttle bus or on public transport. So don’t miss out. Mark your calendars and join us in celebrating Fingal’s food and farming culture”.

In addition to free admission to the event, Fingal County Council are also offering a shuttle bus option to and from Balbriggan/Skerries, Rush/Lusk, Swords, Naul/Ballyboughal and Blanchardstown. The cost is €1.50 per person for a return ticket and under 16’s go free. All tickets must be booked in advance. If you are travelling by car, pre-book your car parking ticket for the best value. Early bird car tickets are priced at €15.00 and €20.00 or €30.00 on the day.

For more information and to book your parking and shuttle bus tickets, visit the festival's website www.flavoursoffingal.ie or follow us on social media for regular updates and announcements.

Notes

Fingal County Council. We are Ireland’s youngest local authority area (established in 1994) and are home to over 300,000 people. We are Ireland’s fastest growing county; with a population almost doubling from 1991 to 2016. We are defined by the diversity of our residents and our landscape in equal measure. We are rural, urban, coastal and suburban. We are home to strong, established communities tracing their roots back hundreds of years, side by side with emerging communities looking forward to exciting futures. Discover more here: www.fingal.ie/resident

Getting There:

On foot or by bike: dedicated bike-parking spaces are available on site.
Shuttle Bus: pre-booked shuttle buses will operate to and from Balbriggan/Skerries, Rush/Lusk, Swords, Naul/Ballyboughal and Blanchardstown. The cost is €1.50 per person for a return ticket and under 16’s go free. All tickets must be booked in advance. Shuttle buses leave the venue at 16:00pm, the last bus is 18:30pm sharp. Further information is available on https://flavoursoffingal.ie/travel/bus
Train: Donabate Train Station is a five-minute walk from Newbridge House. See www.irishrail.ie for schedule.
Dublin Bus: Route 33b https://www.goaheadireland.ie for timetables. Donabate train station is a five minute walk from Newbridge House & Gardens.
Car: Car parking tickets can be booked online in advance at a reduced rate of €15 (booked before the 24th June) and €20 (booked before 8am on the morning of the event) on www.flavoursoffingal.ie Car parking passes on the day are priced at €30 per car, available at the ticket office.

Participating Dublin Coast & Field members:

The King Sitric has been in Howth for over 50 years and has an international reputation for sourcing and serving the best of Irish Fish and Shellfish. www.kingsitric.ie
McNally Family Farm has been certified organic since 1998. The family specialises in growing a large variety of vegetables, herbs, salads, roots and fruits. In additions to a 77-acre farm and 50 Polytunnels covering 3 acres the farm also offers an exciting farm shop and café. www.mcnallyfamilyfarm.ie
Country Crest, this farm run by the Hoey family understand that in the 21st Century there’s more to farming than being passionate about our produce. They need to be just as passionate about working sustainably; to respect the environment and to give back to the land that gives us so much. www.countrycrest.ie
An Bácús Beag - This bakery in Donabate produce a selection of sourdoughs as well as continental and traditional breads and patisserie. Thei breads are made with only organic flour, salt, water and yeast. https://realbreadireland.org/portfolio/an-bacus-beag-the-little-bakery-donabate-dublin/
Clare, founder of Feisty Ferments, is a fully certified Nutritional Therapist. She is a member of both the Fingal Food Network and The Fermenters Guild. She lovingly produces kombucha in Fingal, North County Dublin, the market garden of Ireland. www.feistyferments.ie