News Bites

Why Cork on a Fork Fest

Cork has always been known for its rich culinary heritage and vibrant food scene and now you can get a taste of all that the region has to offer at Cork on a Fork Festival, which takes place across Cork City from August 13-17.  Over five days, the city centre will turn into a gastronomic paradise, celebrating the vibrant and diverse food culture of the region.

Drawing food enthusiasts from near and far, Cork on a Fork offers a diverse array of experiences for all palates including unique dining events, pop-up restaurants, chef collaborations, live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, interactive workshops, food and drink pairings events, bite-sized talks, and plenty of kids’ food activities  

It’s not just a festival; it’s a unique celebration of Cork’s food culture and everything that makes Cork’s food scene special. It’s a testament to the city’s rich culinary heritage, its talented chefs, its commitment to local produce and sustainability, and its multiculturalism. For anyone passionate about food, this is an unmissable festival that offers magic ingredients and a true taste of Cork.  

Organised by Cork City Council in partnership with local businesses, producers and stakeholders, the week highlights the region’s exceptional culinary talents, featuring Michelin-starred chefs, beloved local eateries, fascinating food history and delicious local produce.

What to expect

• Dining:  Enjoy exclusive dining experiences and special tasting menus at restaurants throughout the city.
• Demos, Workshops & Talks: Hone your culinary skills with demos, workshops, talks, and masterclasses led by top chefs and industry experts. Sessions cover everything from bread baking and pastry making to drinks tasting and food photography.
• Trails, Tours & Tastings:  Experience food trails through the city, one-off food tours, and tasting events.
• Festival Marquee & Market: Enjoy free cooking demos all weekend at the pop-up Festival Marquee on Emmet Place, explore the local food market, and talks at the Cork Opera House.
• Family:  There will be festival fun and food education for all the family with kids cooking classes, child friendly demos, family dining experiences, food trails, and play.
• Free:  Enjoy plenty of free experiences, from demos and tastings to community garden events.

A Culinary Treasure Trove

Cork City is packed with talented chefs, great places to eat, top-rated restaurants, fun pubs, and unique dining and outdoor spaces. The farm-to-fork tradition dates back centuries to its establishment as a trading port in 915-922. Over the past 200 years, the wider Cork region has led the way in the modern Irish specialty food producer movement, boasting approximately 60% of the country's artisan producers.

Local Produce at the Heart of the Festival

Cork City and its surrounding region are known for producing high-quality artisan products, from fresh seafood and specialty meats,  artisan cheeses, organic vegetables, and craft beverages. One of the standout features of the festival is the emphasis on farm-to-fork dining. Many participating restaurants in the city pride themselves on sourcing as many ingredients as possible locally, often from the famous English Market, ensuring that every dish is fresh, seasonal, and bursting with flavour. This commitment to sustainability and local sourcing not only supports the regional economy but also allows visitors to taste the true essence of Cork.

Legacy of the Festival

Niamh Murphy continued, “One of the best things about Cork on a Fork is that it has fostered a sense of collaboration and camaraderie among the city’s food community. Chefs and restaurateurs have come together with each other and producers from the wider region to celebrate a shared passion for food and our city, leading to creative collaborations and even new longer-term opportunities for businesses.

“As a port town, Cork has always been a multicultural food destination. Many events showcase dishes from a diverse range of cultures, created by talented chefs who are bringing new flavours and dining experiences to their adopted city. “ 

Behind Cork on a Fork Fest

Cork on a Fork Festival is organised and supported by Cork City Council in partnership with local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East, Pure Cork, Cork Business Association, Cork Airport, and the IHF Cork Branch.

Fearghal Reidy continued "Cork on a Fork Fest is a tribute to Cork’s rich culinary heritage and its burgeoning reputation as a food capital. Initially developed to celebrate Cork city’s ever-evolving dining and nightlife scene, the festival has grown phenomenally since its pilot in 2022. Based on excellent feedback, Fáilte Ireland and Cork City Council, along with various stakeholders, are now developing a food destination plan to make Cork the food capital of Ireland.  The focus on local and regional produce also, pardon the pun, feeds into our sustainability and climate goals that are so important.”

Head of Ireland’s Ancient East, Brian O’Flynn said:  “Cork City is an important part of Ireland’s Ancient East and has huge potential to attract domestic and international visitors. The Cork on a Fork festival provides the perfect opportunity to showcase all that Cork City has to offer. Fáilte Ireland looks for every opportunity to encourage visitors to explore and stay in the region for longer, increase spend and help to drive revenue for local businesses. We are currently working with industry and key stakeholders to identify new opportunities to create a diverse range of visitor experiences as part of our Destination and Experience Development Plans for Ireland’s Ancient East. Cork is already recognised nationally for leading the way in providing outdoor dining facilities and with the support of Fáilte Ireland has helped businesses extend opening times and grow Cork’s nighttime economy. We will continue to build on Cork’s great food provenance to enhance its reputation as a great food destination.”

Get a taste of Cork’s unique food culture at Cork on a Fork Festival 2025

The 5-day food festival returns from 13th-17th August 2025 and will feature new food experiences, food trails, tasting masterclasses, street events, talks, cooking demos, specials, family fun, and more. 

Cork on a Fork Fest is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of Cork’s unique food culture as the city showcases its culinary excellence, creative  dining experiences, and quality local produce over five days of incredible food, events, talks, cooking demos and festival fun for all ages.

It’s a celebration of all things food and Cork, bringing together the magic ingredients of this authentic, innovative and multicultural food destination.  Expect a host of exclusive dining and entertainment experiences, street events, and the chance to sample incredible food from the region’s wonderful array of growers, producers and farmers.  

Plans are already well underway for events. Whether you want to taste your way through the city on a food trail, take part in one of a kind culinary experiences or street events, learn a new cooking skill, take part in a workshop, enjoy live entertainment, or hear about the city’s fascinating food history, there will be plenty to see, do and devour at Cork’s newest food festival that’s quickly becoming a favourite.

Cork City is packed with talented chefs, great places to eat, top- rated restaurants , fun pubs and a vibrant outdoor dining scene. It has a treasure trove of unique dining spaces from historic buildings to rooftop gardens, waterfront venues, converted churches, old forts and jails.  Cork is a farm to fork destination that dates back centuries to circa 915-922 when it was established as a trading port, and over the past 200 years the wider Cork region has led the way for the modern Irish specialty food producer movement with an abundance of the country's artisan producers along its coastal shores and rich agricultural land.  Much of this produce can be found in the famous English Market, meaning that restaurants and cafes can phone for produce and it arrives fresh 20 minutes later. It’s unique to the city and something everyone is very proud of. 

Cork also has a rich history as a key provisioning centre, so local food traditions blend with global flavours resulting in a modern fusion. With this quality and variety you can see why it’s hailed as Ireland’s food capital!   And Cork on a Fork Fest has a great opportunity to sample these key ingredients.

The imaginative 5 day food festival began with a taster of a pilot in 2022 to celebrate Cork food and Cork City’s ever evolving dining and nightlife scene, and went full steam ahead last year when many of the city’s top restaurants, food experiences and producers came on board for a collaborative festival to truly celebrate Cork’s incredible food scene. 

Cork on a Fork Festival is organised and supported by Cork City Council in partnership with local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Pure Cork, and Cork Airport.

Details of the full programme will be announced in the coming months on corkonaforkfest.ie but save the date for now and stay tuned on social media @corkonaforkfest for the latest updates.