The first ever Northern Ireland Potato Festival is planned for the weekend starting October 4th. The event is free and there will be lots of attractions for all the family.

nantrim_potatofestival

The National Trust blog has this to say;

“Italy have pasta, Spain have paella, Northern Ireland have…well, potatoes of course!

But what have potatoes got to do with the Giant’s Causeway? Well, Innisfree Farm (the Giant’s Causeway offices) was once the homestead of John Clarke, a pioneering potato breeder who won an OBE for breeding the first blight-resistant crop of potatoes. To add to this fame, the Maris Piper (the most widely consumed potato in the UK) is a ‘grandson’ of a John Clarke variety. (Dare we call ourselves the spiritual home of the modern potato?!)

Join us next weekend across the North Coast to celebrate the mainstay of our culinary culture, beginning Friday 4 October. (Please note: Farm visits must be booked in advance).”

For more information contact Good Food NI:  call (028) 90 249 449

So if you get excited about potatoes, want to grow your own, fancy a day out to a farm or want to keep the kids entertained for the weekend be sure to visit the Northern Ireland Potato Festival.