By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle
Minister of State James Browne TD launched the 2022 Enniscorthy Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival at a pleasant outdoors reception hosted by Dunnes Stores on the roof of Enniscorthy Castle this evening.
Cllr Aidan Browne, Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, said he was delighted to be invited to the launch of the festival and he acknowledged the work of the committee and the sponsors. “This festival has grown into the most successful summer festival in Co. Wexford. This success is being directed and managed by the festival committee under the chairmanship of Eric Barron and I would like to compliment Eric and his committee.
“The festival would not be able to proceed without the wonderful support of the sponsors – Wexford County Council and Dunnes Stores – and all the hard work will attract many thousands of people to Enniscorthy over the weekend. This will create offer a wonderful opportunity to showcase the town and offer a great boost to business.”
Eric Barron said; “It falls to me as Chairman of the Rockin’ Food and Fruit Committee to welcome you here this evening and I do so in the confident knowledge that this year’s event will live up to, if not surpass, the growing reputation our festival has gained over the years.
“In 2018 and 2019 the festival was adjudged as ‘the best festival in the South-East’ and that accolade was upmost in our minds when we set out about organising this year’s event. Organising an event of this magnitude is a huge undertaking and here I would like to thank my colleagues on the committee; Maree Lyng, Amanda Whitmore, Aisling Coady, Emma Fox, Jimmy Gahan and Richie Cotter. Their commitment and enthusiasm for the task in hand made it all worthwhile and as chairman I publicly. applaud their efforts.”
Attendance included Deputy Paul Kehoe, Cllrs Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Cathal Byrne and Jackser Owens, Bishop Denis Brennan, sponsors, committee members and other invited guests.
Over 50 food stalls will take over the centre of Enniscorthy overnight and the festival will be rockin’ from early Saturday morning until Sunday evening and large crowds are expected and a warm welcome awaits locals and visitors alike.
The programme includes a huge range of free events such as Artisan Food and a Craft Market, a Food Marquee and a superb line-up of celebrity chefs, including Kevin Dundon, Zack Gallagher, Paul Hynes and Trudy Power from Trudie’s Kitchen, to name a select quartet, with tastings and special guests.
The Live Outdoor Stage at Market Square will be booming all weekend with special guest dancers who are the heart and soul of the festival.
The Rock and Roll Town Gig Trail provides a huge choice of live music at 14 venues around town and at the Rockshore Main Stage in Market Square.
The Midnight Crawlers and The Due-Tones are arriving in the shadow of Vinegar Hill from the UK, Memphis Lee and the Creepers are a five-piece band from south Wales, Barry Darcy is an Ireland’s Got Talent finalist, Irish Elvis is one of Ireland’s multi-award-winning tributes to the King- Elvis Presley, and many others.
The advice from the organising committee is to take a stroll through the medieval streets of Enniscorthy and savour the very best of both local and national produce as chefs and food producers have the finest fare of offer.
For full details contact www.rockinfoodandfruitfestival.ie
WexfordLocal.com 