The Kitchen Table (Talks) in Currans Store on the Quay is the homely heartbeat of this 2024 Festival. Planting the message of the festival right where it belongs… at the open Kitchen Table!

These talks bring economists, chefs, actors, storytellers, podcasters, food producers back to the Kitchen Table for some good old open conversation. This is your table, your home, your Dungarvan. Our festival mission in 2024 is to ensure that the local people who grow, produce, cook, and sell food all have a central presence so join us and you can look forward to some familiar faces and lively conversation around the Kitchen Table Talks!

11.00am Sally Barnes in conversation with Kate Ryan Flavour.ie

Sally Barnes has been one of the key figures in the Irish Artisan food renaissance of the last forty years. Sally is a true artisan and has consistently shown absolute dedication to skilled craft combined with an unwavering commitment to the provenance of her foods.
Woodcock smoked fish sits at the pinnacle of Irish gastronomy and is respected as such not only in Ireland but across the culinary world.

12noon Fintan O’Toole in conversation with Ian Noctor

Fintan O’Toole is a multi-award winning, hugely admired and globally recognised journalist, theatre critic, writer ( there’s lots more than will fit here!). His recent, magnificent book We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958, provides a gem of social insight to the political, economic and social tapestry of life in Ireland over the last fifty years. This important conversation is around the social importance of food and what happens at our table.  What impacts our daily lives, our experience? What do we talk about… who do we remember and who do we miss… what do we eat…what are our heart-warming food memories…. at our Kitchen Table?

1.00pm Paul Flynn, Micheal Sheehan and Moe Dunford in conversation with Jane Gormley Craicly Stories

There is apparently something in the water (or the air, or the land) in Dungarvan when it comes to growing creative talent. Wowzers. We have managed to round up three “lovely local lads” back to our Kitchen Table to share with us their Dungarvan foodie childhood (middle hood and beyond) …. cherished memories. All three guests are regular faces on the silver screen, from TV to film to cookery focused features… and all grew up here in Dungarvan. Join the Kitchen Table Talks to hear how their careers and lives have been influenced by their times here in Dungarvan.

2.00pm:  Darina Allen in conversation with Kate Ryan Flavour.ie

Darina Allen and Ballymaloe have been a driving force on both the national and international food scene. A shining light in bringing traditional, local Irish ingredients to a global stage, Darina has managed to bring these conversations to both the local and international consciousness.  As we step into yet another stage in this food industry cycle, and a set of fresh challenges, what are the factors within economic and government policy that are likely to impact our local food community? What would Darina see in her crystal ball for the industry in the next twenty years?

3.00pm Ryland Teifi – from table to podcast in conversation with Ian Noctor

Ryland Teifi (BAFTA Cymru Award-Winning Actor and Waterford resident) certainly has a story to tell about how a visit to The Clancy Brothers household and kitchen changed his life. This is an ultimate Kitchen Table conversation as Ryland traces his and his wife’s family memories emanating from around this table and into food, talk, songs, wine, music and many, many stories. Ryland and his wife Róisín Clancy live in Ring with their family. Join us to hear how these experiences in the 90’s directly influenced the creation of the Clancy’s Kitchen show today but more importantly the podcast which will relaunch at the time of the festival.

Kindly sponsored by Dawn Meats