A forthcoming festival places the humble apple centre stage as part of a unique celebration of food, community, and nature.
One of Ireland’s most familiar fruits is getting the star treatment this September at Úll Abú, the Apple Day Festival, taking place at the Organic Centre in Rossinver on September 26-27. The festival will explore the apple’s place in our food culture and the wider importance of protecting biodiversity, supporting local producers and growing more sustainably.
The Organic Centre, a charitable and social enterprise, was founded in 1995, and its annual Apple Day has been attracting visitors since 1999. It is now the centre’s most popular event, bringing together growers, food producers, craftspeople, families and people interested in sustainable living.
This year’s festival begins on September 26, with a seasonal Supper Club led by chef, Mike Harris of Edergole Kitchen. Apple Day itself takes place from noon until 4pm on September 27, when the Organic Centre’s grounds will be filled with talks, demonstrations, food, crafts, music and family activities. Highlights include:
- Visitors will be able to watch apples being pressed and taste the resulting fresh juice, meet regional food and drink producers, and enjoy two cookery demonstrations from Mike Harris featuring affordable recipes made with Irish fruit and vegetables
- The programme will examine the future of food and growing in Ireland. Speakers include Kenneth Keavey, founder of Green Earth Organics; biodynamic regenerative farmer, Charles Carr of Bullaun Ark; Elaine Bradley, Manager of Irish Seed Savers; and Joanna Sweeney, author of Wildcrafting Pathways.
- Elaine will explore the importance of conserving rare seeds and Ireland’s heritage apple trees, helping audiences discover that an apple is not simply an apple: different varieties carry their own flavours, characteristics, histories and connections to particular places.
Stephen Campbell, General Manager of Rossinver Organic Centre, said the festival has this year expanded into a two-day event celebrating Irish food, seasonal produce and local culture – with the support of Failte Ireland and Leitrim Tourism. He added: “Apple Day begins with the belief that this everyday fruit is genuinely worth celebrating. The apple carries stories of place, taste, biodiversity and tradition. It also opens up much bigger conversations about how we grow food, how we value seasonal produce and what we want our food system to look like in the future. We want people to come and enjoy a wonderful day, but also to leave looking at the humble apple and perhaps their food more generally with fresh eyes. We are grateful to Fáilte Ireland and Leitrim County Council, for their continued support and promotion of the festival”.
Sinéad McDermott, Tourism Officer of Leitrim County Council, continued: “The Apple Festival is a unique way of showing how Leitrim’s communities, landscapes and local food traditions can come together to create a distinctive visitor experience in the county. The festival is wonderful opportunity to support local growers, producers and of course tourism”.
- For further information, visit theorganiccentre.ie or www.enjoyleitrim.com