Kinsale Good Food Circle hosted the 9th All Ireland Chowder Cook Off in Kinsale on Sunday with a record attendance. By pubic vote, Donegal representative, Killybegs Seafood Shack, won the coveted crown of Ireland’s Best Chowder for 2019, sponsored by Clóna and Cork Gas.

The runner up position went to Galway’s Kings Head and third place to Caisleain Oir, also from Donegal. Best newcomer went to The Longford Arms Hotel.

The prize of €1,000 and the Derek Davis Memorial Trophy was presented to Killybegs Seafood Shack by Kinsale’s own Martin Shanahan and Restaurant Association President Liam Edwards.

Now heading for its 10th anniversary in 2020, record numbers hit Kinsale for the weekend and what started 9 years ago as a one day event, has now grown into a weekend festival, commencing on the Friday night with a hugely successful sell out Fashion Show in aid of Kinsale Youth Support Service, followed on Saturday with The Street Feast where local businesses and suppliers took to the streets to create an incredible Street Food Festival to rival anywhre in the world, again with record attendance over the afternoon. The theme of this year’s Street Feast was sustainability and each stand was encouraged to avoid single use plastics and use environmentally friendly products where possible with a prize for the most sustainable stand.

Another hugely successful addition to the Festival was the Blacks Brewery & Distillery Wild Atlantic Way Craft Beer and Distillery Festival on Saturday afternoon featuring Craft Beers and Craft Spirits from along the Wild Atlantic way with live music from the incredible local band King K. Following its year one success, this looks set to be another great annual festival in the Kinsale Calender.

The Good Food Circle is made up of eleven member restaurants namely, Fishy Fishy, The Bulman, The White Lady, Finns’ Table, The Blue Haven, Actons Hotel, Jim Edwards, The White House, The Trident Hotel, The Supper Club and The Man Friday.  

Kinsale Good Food Circle, which was set up in 1976 with an ethos of a rising tide lifts all boats, currently organises three major festivals each year, being the annual Gourmet Festival in October now in its 43rd year, Kinsale Restaurant Week and The All Ireland Chowder Weekend.

Pictured are Mairead and Garry Anderson from the Seafood Shack in Killybegs with celebrity chef Martin Shanahan celebrating after winning first prize at the 9th All Ireland Chowder Cook Off in Actons Hotel Kinsale and organised by the Kinsale Good Food Circle.
Picture. John Allen