Festival goers in for a real treat

Festival goers are being urged to bring their appetite along to the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival this year as food traders are being joined by renowned chefs to celebrate the local fare of the Causeway Coast and Glens.

The Festival will take place between 22nd May and 31st May this year, with the Ballycastle Town Market running from Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May, offering a diverse mix of local produce, art and crafts. The Market has a strong maritime theme, incorporating various seafood and inspired cookery demonstrations.

Caroline Carey, Tourism Officer at Causeway Coast and Glens explains: “The food on offer at the Festival celebrates our love of local produce, especially seafood and how it is such a big part of our cultural heritage. In addition to delicious seafood, we have some exemplary cooks and bakers exhibiting the culinary talents here in the Causeway Coast and Glens, with some amazing bread, cakes, cupcakes and tray bakes on offer, to name but a few!

“We are also lucky to have secured Derek Creagh from the Great British Menu, who will be appearing from 12:30 to 2:30pm on Sunday 24th May at the seafront in Ballycastle.”

Derek won the Georgina Campbell Chef of the Year Award and has worked with proprietor Donal Doherty to open the new Harry’s Shack restaurant on Portstewart Strand. Derek’s cuisine is modern with a focus on using the best local produce – this time pioneering the best on offer in the Causeway Coast and Glens.

“Local lad Oliver Molloy will be representing Gidleigh Park in the Seafood Cookery demonstrations. Well known for providing quality food at O’Connor’s Bar in Ballycastle, he was offered a position after his placement with 2 Michelin Star Gidleigh Park in Devon, after completing his Professional Chef’s Diploma in June 2014. He will be on the same afternoon as Derek, which is perfect, as it shows the level talent in the area,” continued Caroline Carey.

Shauna McFall, Ballycastle Town Market, said, “This Festival is great news for the town and we are delighted to be playing our part. We are a not for profit community group which holds a regular market in Ballycastle with the aim to promote and encourage local producers, crafters and artists with a strong ‘shop local’ ethos.

“At this event there will be some amazing gastronomy on offer and Ballycastle will be a hive of activity over the ten days of the Festival, with a variety of events happening throughout, so I’d encourage everyone to come along, particularly to the Ballycastle Market as you’ll be missing out if you don’t!”

“It’s also worth mentioning that our fabulous restaurants and hotels use the freshest local produce on a daily basis, so make sure to sample these delights too. The Traditional boats, the Drontheim and the Currach are gracing Ballycastle seafront, as well as a fabulous Maritime Exhibition, exploring our fishing heritage. We have Treasure Hunts and Fishing Trips as well as the RNLI and Coastguard displaying their equipment and holding rescue exercises,” concluded Caroline Carey.

For further information about the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, log on to www.heartofthecausewaycoastandglens.com/maritimefestival or contact Ballycastle Visitor Information Centre on 028 2076 2024 or email [email protected].