Live Stage and Markets
LIVE FESTIVAL STAGES EMMET PLACE
Cork on a Fork Cooking Demos Live Stage
11.00am - 6.00pm, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
A 100-seat Festival Cooking Demo Stage on Emmet Place (outside the Cork Opera House) all day with a host of demos and tastings. The events are MC'd by food writers Joe McNamee from the Irish Examiner, John and Sally McKenna from McKenna Guides and Kate Ryan from Flavour.ie. Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
11.00am: Smokin’ Fish with Aishling Moore of Goldie and Sally Barnes of Woodcock Smokery
11.00am, Saturday 16th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Cork on A Fork Talks and Tastings Stage
11.00am - 6.30pm, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Cork’s Food Revolution: Innovators Shaping the Future
11.00am - 12 Noon, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Join us for an exciting live podcast recording featuring three of Cork’s most innovative food entrepreneurs. Hosted by Sharon Noonan, presenter of The Best Possible Taste—Ireland’s longest-running food and drink podcast. FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Summer Alfresco with Clodagh McKenna
12 Noon, Saturday 16th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Clodagh McKenna, one of Cork's most famous chefs, will host a cooking demo featuring Moroccan Spiced Chicken Couscous Salad and Lemon Possets, followed by a book signing. A renowned chef, TV presenter, and food columnist, Clodagh is the author of eight cookbooks, including the best-selling In Minutes and Clodagh’s Weeknight Kitchen. She is a resident chef on ITV’s This Morning and has hosted five TV series. Clodagh lives on her 100-acre sustainable farm in the UK.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Liquid Gold - A Celebration of Cork’s Blas na hÉireann Award-Winning Beverages
12.15pm - 1.15pm, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
English Market Cooking Demo with Cork Chef Orla McAndrew
1.00pm - 2.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Outside the English Market on Grand Parade
Tickets: FREE (No booking required)
Takashi Takes on Tripe
2.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
On the Pig's Back: Artisan Producers Market
2.00pm - 7.00pm, Saturday 16th August, St. Peter's North Main St
An On the Pig's Back curated market that brings together some of the region’s most beloved artisan producers. Sample a mouthwatering selection of local Cork cheeses & Charcuterie including the best of cheesemakers, charcuterie producers, biscuits, crisps and crackers etc.
All welcome No need to book
Young Rebel Uprising
3.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
A cooking demo showcasing Cork’s rising chefs . MC'd by Irish Examiner food writer Joe McNamee.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
In Gut Health – Eat and Drink Your Way to a Happy and Healthy Gut
3.15pm - 4.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Fibre and fermentation are two easy ways to increase the health of our gut microbiome which is key to ensure overall health in body and mind. Join Paul Cotter, a leading scientist from UCCs APC Microbiome (featured in the Netflix documentary “Hack Your Health – Secrets of your Gut”), and Cork-based makers of gut-friendly drinks Sauer, BKultured and Phyterberry to find out how easy it is to feed your gut for better health. MC'd by Kate Ryan,Flavour.ie
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Modern Vegan & Vegetarian Food
4.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Three of Cork’s leading vegan and vegetarian chefs from My Goodness, Paradiso and Meb’s Veg, discuss how they have pushed the dial of Vegan and Vegetarian food forward for modern times by going beyond meat and putting focus on ethical food sourcing and sustainability. Includes a cookery demonstration and tastings. MC'd by Kate Ryan, Flavour.ie
Raw Treats Demo and Stretches with The Yoga Tree
4.15pm - 5.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Tastes of Home
5.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Join Saoirse Ethnic Hands for the launch of Tastes of Home, a multicultural cookbook created by migrant women living in Cork. This special event will feature live cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and storytelling from the women behind the recipes. The cookbook shares not only delicious dishes but also the memories, traditions, and personal stories that go with them. A celebration of culture, resilience, and the power of food to connect us all. Don't miss this unique culinary experience that showcases our city’s diversity in food.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Splitting the C – A Celebration of Cork’s Independent Stout Brewers
5.30pm - 6.30pm, Saturday 16th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Join Kate Ryan (Flavour.ie) for a cheeky take on Cork’s stout brewing traditions through the eyes – and tastebuds – of five of Cork’s independent stout brewers. Rising Sons, Original 7, Eight Degrees Brewing, 9 White Deer and Blacks of Kinsale state their claim for why Splitting the C is better than any other letter of the alphabet! Taste some fierce great stouts, too.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Cork on a Fork Food Market & Play Street
11.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Emmet Place (outside the Crawford Art Gallery)
Get a taste of Cork's incredible produce and local businesses at the Cork on a Fork Food Market. There will also be live music and family fun with giant games and free facepainting during the day. A Cork City Council event, sponsored by Failte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.
Rob Fitzpatrick, Market Lane
11.00am, Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Join Rob Fitzpatrick, head chef at the iconic Market Lane Restaurant on Oliver Plunkett St, one of the busiest and most beloved restaurants in Cork city, for this fantastic demo. A graduate of GMIT and MTU, Rob spent many years working in kitchens around the world before joining the Market Lane Group, eventually taking over the kitchen there in 2023.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Summer Italian Supper with Clodagh McKenna
12.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Clodagh McKenna, one of Cork's most famous chefs, will host a cooking demo featuring Chilli Garlic Prawn Linguine and Roasted Peaches with honey, mascarpone and hazelnut crumb, followed by a book signing. A renowned chef, TV presenter, and food columnist, Clodagh is the author of eight cookbooks, including the best-selling In Minutes and Clodagh’s Weeknight Kitchen. She is a resident chef on ITV’s This Morning and has hosted five TV series. Clodagh lives on her 100-acre sustainable farm in the UK.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Cork on a… Stick! A Cork Cook-Off, with a Twist!
1.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Returning for 2025, three chefs compete to design, cook and present their take on a Cork Pinxtos. Who will be crowned the 2025 Cork on a Stick champion? Pamela Kelly (The Farmgate Café), David Deveraux (51 Cornmarket) and Rebeca Recary Sanchez (St Francis Provisions) will each put their best fork forward to present a single tasty bite using a Cork ingredient they love! MC'd by Kate Ryan (Flavour.ie)
FREE All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Street Food Showdown
2.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
Get ready for a sizzling street food showdown as some of Cork’s most exciting culinary talents go head-to-head in a live cook-off. Darren O’Connell of Kay’s Kitchen and Jerome Williamson of EcoFish will bring their unique style to the table, transforming fresh, local ingredients into bold, street food-inspired bites. Expect fire and flair as these chefs battle it out. MC’d by Joe McNamee, Irish Examiner senior food writer.
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
Talking recipes with Cork’s Blasta Book authors
2.30pm-3.30pm, Sunday 17th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Blasta Books burst onto the cookbook scene in 2022 and changed the face – and voice – of Ireland’s food story and becoming an instant cult classic. Join this enlightening chat with Cork’s Blasta Book authors Aishling Moore (Goldie x Whole Catch), Caitlin Ruth (Caitlin Ruth Food x Funky), Orla McAndrew (OM Catering x Larder) and Eman and Izz Alkarajeh (Izz Café x Jibrin) for how food and stories are changing how we eat. MC'd by Kate Ryan,Flavour.ie
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
The Journey of Five Farms with Tasting
4.00pm-5.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Talks & Tastings Stage, Emmet Place
Hear about the journey of Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, a local producer that embodies the true spirit of farm-to-table craftsmanship. Crafted from single batches of fresh cream blended with premium Irish whiskey within 48 hours of collection, this authentic liqueur captures the essence of West Cork. Sourced exclusively from five family-owned farms in the region, every step of the process—from mixing to bottling—takes place locally in Cork, making it a true rebel county creation. Tastings will be offered at this talk. Over 18s only.
Rescue the Plate
5.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Cooking Demo Stage, Emmet Place
In partnership with FoodCloud, join us for the final marquee event of the festival as we turn Food “Waste” into Food “Ace” with two of Cork’s leading Zero Waste chefs, Ali Honour and Orla McAndrew. Ready, Steady, Cook-style, our chefs will be tasked with making delicious dishes using a surprise bag of would-be food waste rescued from some of our festival restaurants with a winner chosen by a surprise Guest of Honour!
FREE. All welcome. Limited seats. No need to book
MARKETS
Food, Fun and Farm at the Cornmarket St Market (Coal Quay)
11.00am - 3.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Coal Quay Cornmarket Street
Pop down to the Cornmarket Street (Coal Quay) Market, enjoy light bites on the street and everyone can have lots of fun with a pop-up Rumleys Farm, facepainting and giant Jenga, connect four, corn hole, balance board games, colour catcher games, tug of war and more, with our Let’s Play Cork play leaders. Note: this is not supervised play and parents are responsible for children. Play street and facepainting from 11am-1pm.
Tickets: FREE (No booking required)
Cork on a Fork Food Market & Play Street
11.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Emmet Place (outside The Crawford Art Gallery)
Get a taste of Cork's incredible produce and local businesses at the Cork on a Fork Food Market. There will be live music and family fun with giant games and free face painting during the day. A Cork City Council event, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.
FREE ENTRANCE No booking required