See Food at SeaFest

It will be roll up, roll up for the Big Top at SeaFest as Galway's gourmets prepare to enjoy a uniquely diverse and delicious taste of the sea at the Bord Iascaigh Mhara/Bord Bia Sea Food Extravaganza over the weekend of 2 and 3 July.

Located in a real Big Top marquee at Galway Harbour, this celebration of fabulous fish and stunning seafood will showcase the work of some of Ireland's best known and most respected chefs.

Martin Shanahan from Fishy Café, Kinsale, Rory O'Connell from Ballymaloe Cookery School and Michael O'Meara from Oscar's Bistro in Galway (author of the top-selling 'Sea Gastronomy', which recently won Best Cookbook in the World) will share some of their favourite recipes and culinary tips, while BIM's 2015 Young Fishmonger Of The Year, Gerard Collier from The Fisherman's Catch, Clogherhead, will help take the mystery out of choosing and preparing fish and shellfish.

The talented quartet will help audiences to discover more about the rich resources we harvest from the sea, with a special focus on sustainable fishing. From established everyday favourites to high end, luxury, the chefs will show that there is a seafood dish for almost every occasion. Some great local producers will be on hand too, offering opportunities to sample and buy, either to enjoy on the spot at SeaFest or to take home to share with all the family.

Visitors to the harbour-side marquee will also find out about 'Taste the Atlantic' – a seafood journey stretching south from Erris in County Mayo to Connemara and on to Galway Bay, passing some of Ireland's most breath-taking seascapes and landmarks: a whole new way to experience the Wild Atlantic Way and to learn more about how Irish seafood is caught and farmed.

BIM will also use the opportunity, via its hard-hitting 'Live To Tell The Tale' campaign, to remind audiences of the risks that our fishermen face in bringing the catch of the day to our tables.

BIM/Bord Bia Seafood Extravaganza Stage Schedule*:
*All times are subject to change

Saturday 2nd July
10.45am – 11.15am Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015
11.30am-12.30pm Michael O'Meara, Oscars Restaurant, Galway
12.45pm – 1.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015
1.30pm-2.30pm Rory O'Connell, Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co. Cork
2.45pm – 3.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015
3.30pm-4.30pm Rory O'Connell, Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co. Cork
4.45pm – 5.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015

Sunday 3rd July
10.45am – 11.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015
11.30am - 12.30pm Martin Shanahan, Fishy Fishy Café, Kinsale, Co. Cork
12.45am – 1.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015
1.30pm - 2.30pm Michael O'Meara, Oscars Restaurant, Galway
2.45pm – 3.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015
3.30pm - 4.30pm Martin Shanahan, Fishy Fishy Café, Kinsale, Co. Cork
4.45pm – 5.15pm Gerard Collier, Fishmonger of the Year 2015

Just a step away from the tented cuisine lies the Festival Village where show-goers will find a host of festival market stalls serving hot and cold snacks and beverages as well as creative retailing from some of Galway's finest craftspeople and artisans.

Music, song and dance will combine to keep the mood buoyant with everything from military band recitals to trad sessions and some expertly exotic shimmying from the MaSamba Samba School.

Children's entertainment will be all around with storyteller Pat Ryan weaving magical spells with seafaring yarns and tales of what lies beneath the sea, while stilt-walkers, cartoon characters and street performers add to the free family fun.

Miss Shell, the Amazing Circus Mermaid, will stage a fishy show to put a smile on anyone's face. Expect the unexpected as this fun and colourful underwater creature sings her way beautifully into your heart, performs a brilliantly comedic fish-juggling routine, packs in some exquisite dolphin tricks and rounds the show off with a fantastic multihoop hula hoop finale!

Maintaining the more serious marine theme, but still ready for fun, the Irish Sailing Association, in partnership with local Galway Clubs and Training Centres, will give an insight into the preparatory training that will take Irish Olympian Annalise Murphy to Rio. SeaFesters can also see and feel how boats sail using Model Sailboats in the Docks. Inspired attendees will be able to find out from local club members how to try sailing or join a club in Galway, while staff from the ISA will provide updates on marine developments and links to the rest of Ireland for all sailing needs.

Galway will be buzzing for SeaFest and, while that's good news for all concerned, it's well worth checking in advance with www.seafest.ie for up to date information on transport and parking arrangements.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

SeaFest's Social Media: #SeaFest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeaFest.ie/
Twitter: @seafest_ie

A range of business and innovation events are taking place in Galway as part of SeaFest from 30th June -2 July. The third annual Our Ocean Wealth Conference is taking place 1st July with the theme 'Into the Blue – Innovating for Our Marine Future'. The conference will investigate how Ireland can innovate in each of the three goal areas of Ireland's Integrated Marine Plan – Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, namely: a thriving maritime economy, healthy ecosystems and engagement with the sea.

BIM's National Seafood Conference will take place 30th July at the Radisson hotel, Galway. The Digital Ocean will take place 30th July at the Meyrick Hotel, Galway. A Sea Change Researcher Workshop will take place at the Marine Institute and the Marine Industry Awards will take place at the Radisson Hotel, also on the 30th.

SeaFest is an initiative of the inter-departmental Marine Coordination Group and supports the Goals of Harnessing Our Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland in relation to engaging with the Sea.
www.ouroceanwealth.ie
@OurOceanWealth