By Dan Walsh at Kilmore Quay
The 40th annual Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival was officially opened this evening by long service volunteer Sylvia Kehoe in brilliant summer sunshine before a large family gathering.
Ms. Kehoe welcomed the community’s 40th Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival and recalled “four decades of seafood cocktails and platters, gally cooks, talent competitions, Fish Fridays, beach fun, coastal walks and talks, trawler, raft and kayak races, and so many many more memorable events.”
Ms. Kehoe continued; “40 years is a long time, 40 years of hauling nets to provide seafood for our platters and fish market, the untangling strings of bunting by the lifeboat crew, checking the tide table for beach activities, directing traffic in hi-vis vests, usually two sizes too big, and asking for the 100th time – ‘What’s the weather like for the festival weekend?’
Ms. Kehoe paid a special tribute to the volunteers. “The real magic of this festival isn’t the weather really…the real magic has been the volunteers. Showing up, year after year, sleeves rolled up and ready to get stuck in to raising funds and ensure there’s always a place for people from all over to gather, enjoy the hospitality and feel at home.
“Here’s to 40 years of community spirit and I am honoured to be representing the many volunteers over the years and I now declare the 40th Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival Open,” said Sylvia Kehoe followed by a loud celbratory cheer from the large attendance.
The proceedings commenced with a formal parade, led by Parade Marshal Peter Moran of the Coast Guard, and featured a special Festival Float presented by Red Moon Theatre. Musical contributions included a performance by Scottish piper Hamish, while Seamus Flaherty participated with his Harley-Davidson. Additional participants comprised representatives from the ICA, Athletic Club, GAA, The Grounds Restaurant, First Responders, Tomhaggard Clean Coast, RNLI, and the Becky Sheil Dancers.
John Grace, Chair of Kilmore Quay Community Development Association acted as master of ceremonies. Cllr Jim Codd was also present.
The Fish Friday Market is one of the highlights and cookery demonstrations and wine appreciation features award-winning chefs in the Stella Maris Centre from 11am to 4.30pm.
It will feature Celbrity Chef Derry Clarke, Bernie Doyle (Stella Maris Centre), Paul Hynes (La Cóte), Toddy Lambden (Mary Barry’s), Brian O’Driscoll (The Grounds), Warren Gillen (Gillen’s Café, Enniscorthy), a fish filleting demonstration with Toddy and Gina, and Billy Kelly (Kelly’s Resort Hotel) will present some wine tasting.
There are also many free events taking place on Saturday and Sunday and the brochure is available on http://www.kilmorequayseafoodfestival.com
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