Shane’s Castle hosts Irish Game Fair & Fine Food Festival this weekend

Fine food will be in plentiful supply this weekend at The Irish Game Fair & Fine Food Festival , Shane's Castle. (Submitted Picture).

Being hosted there on June 27 and 28, the award winning event has much to offer both the dedicated country sports enthusiast and the family wishing to have an action packed day out in the countryside.

Unlike other events which have a primarily NI focus, the fair at Shane’s Castle has always led the way in terms of promoting and providing all Ireland and international country sports competitions with prize funds unrivalled in Ireland including: Ireland’s largest and most varied range of canine competitions and displays; Ireland’s largest international gundog weekend featuring teams from NI, ROI, England, Scotland & Wales; plus the SACS sponsored scurry and demos by top international handler Tim Crothers and Keith Mathews (the BBC’s Dog Guru).

There will also be great clay shooting with three guns to be won and four qualifications available for the prestigious international White Gold Challenge plus lots of opportunities for the novice shooter.

The award winning Irish Game Fair & Fine Food Festival will be at Shane's Castle, Antrim, on June 27 and 28. (Submitted Picture).

It will also bring to Shane’s Castle, the largest Terrier, Whippet and Lurcher weekend in Ireland with the 28th Annual All Ireland Championships, the Master McGrath Challenge and the Five Nations Whippet Championships.

Angling too gets a new focus with the exciting launch of the DCAL and IFI supported NI Angling Show as a ‘show within the fair’.

Apart from its country sports roots and focus the event has evolved to one of the most attractive countryside and country living events for the whole family.

There are lots of have-a-go events for children including at the new ‘Angling For Everyone’ Angling show where children can learn to tie a fly, to fly cast and then to take the fly and their newly acquired skill and try to catch a trout.

Shane's Castle is on target to appeal to both the dedicated country sports enthusiastand the family wishing to have an action packed day out on June 27 and 28. (Submitted Picture).

If they get lucky, world famous celebrity chef Emmett McCourt will be on hand with a few ideas on how to cook their catch.

Add in air rifle shooting; archery; the chance to wander through a Living History Village in the evocative setting of the old ruined castle on Lough Neagh and interact with Battle of Antrim re-enactors; Knights and Vikings; a huge children’s games area; a Viking Longship to board; animals galore to pet - from spiders and snakes to falcons and ferrets; and a chance to go dog training with the Dog Guru in his handler and dog training masterclass...The Irish Game Fair & Fine Food Festival offers all this too!

There will be three actioned packed arenas with a host of attractions running from 10am-6pm and there will also be a huge tented village of trade stands with a real country lifestyle theme providing hours of browsing and some real bargains to be had; a fantastic Fine Food Festival - the largest ever seen at any Irish Game or Country Fair.

- and some really good game & fish cookery demonstrations.

Admission to the event, which is sponsored by Tourism NI and Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, is £10 adult, and family (2A plus up to 4C) £25 programme and parking free.

For further details see www.irishgamefair.com E:[email protected] or tel. 028 44839167