Dublin Bay Prawn Festival launches
The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival has been launched in the fishing village of Howth.
The final preparations are now in place for the food festival, which takes place in Howth Harbour from 24–26 April.
Now in its fifth year, the three-day Dublin Bay Prawn Festival has grown into one of the largest festivals in Ireland, popular with foodies and families alike.
Local restaurants, bars and cafés will join to host a variety of food experiences, including the main attraction, a ‘Food Village’ serving the freshest seafood and the iconic Dublin Bay prawn, cooked every way imaginable in a marquee on the harbour on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
The festival will open on Friday with a Mystery Dine Around – attendees will embark on a culinary tour of the town’s restaurants.
Chefs will be joined by local fisherman for cookery demonstrations, and fish preparation sessions and all of Howth’s restaurants will be on hand to showcase their unique dishes.
Not just a food festival, the event also showcases the diversity of history, culture and activities of the village.
This year the Heritage marquee will play host to a variety of musical sessions from Traditional Sea Shanties, Howth Gospel Choir and a few tall tales by SeaSpeak storyteller Daria.
The Findlater theatre will host Phelim Drew’s one-man show of George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London.
The festival also offers a host of other events over the three days, including powerboating and watersports along the pier.
The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival was conceived as an important way to build Howth’s brand as a fishing village and great seafood destination while also playing on its association with and proximity to Dublin City, which makes it attractive and accessible to visitors.
It is estimated to bring more than €1m in revenue to the retail, hospitality and leisure trades on the weekend of the festival itself to the town.
The event is made possible by the volunteer support of all of the members of the marketing group Visit Howth Peninsula Ltd, Failte Ireland and Fingal County Council.