TikTok Chef Edgar Kirby Part of Food Line-Up at Cork Summer Show. 2025 Programme Now Live – Over 40,000 Visitors Expected

TikTok Chef Edgar Kirby Part of Food Line-Up at Cork Summer Show 2025

Full Programme Now Live – Over 40,000 Visitors Expected

Prize winning cow, Lucille, with Michelle McGrath, Farmer, Cloyne,  and Gerard Murphy, President, Munster Agricultural Society

TikTok food sensation Edgar Kirby is among the stars of this year’s Cork Summer Show Cookery Demo Stage, bringing his down-to-earth recipes and viral kitchen tips to a live audience as part of the show’s biggest-ever food programme. Taking place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June at the Cork Showgrounds in Curraheen, the 2025 Show promises a weekend packed with food, farming, and flavour, with more than 40,000 visitors expected across Father’s Day weekend. With the full schedule of events now live at www.corksummershow.com, foodies can start planning their perfect weekend now.

Known for his accessible ‘real life recipes’ and huge online following, Edgar will be joined by fellow Irish food names including Cathy Fitzgibbon (The Culinary Celt), Orla McAndrew, Deirdre Doyle (The Cool Food School) and Claire O’Brien (Honest & Goodness Nutrition). Each will bring their own passion for food, sustainability, wellness and community to the Cookery Demo Stage throughout the weekend, with topics ranging from school lunchbox hacks to seasonal cooking and gut health.

Alongside the live demos, visitors can enjoy the Eat Inside Food Marquee, the open-air Outdoor Food Market, the Craft Beer Marquee, the Heineken bar, and the relaxed Members Bar, all running from 10am to 6pm daily. Food producers, tastemakers and stallholders from across Ireland will line the showgrounds, offering tastings, samples, and local treats to try on-site or take home.

Gerard Murphy, President of the Munster Agricultural Society said: “Food is where community, creativity and history all come together — and this year’s line-up reflects that beautifully. From traditional baking to TikTok stars, the Cork Summer Show is showcasing the full spectrum of Irish food culture. We’re proud to welcome some of Ireland’s most exciting voices in food and nutrition to the demo stage — and invite everyone to come hungry.”

The Cork Summer Show also features over 800 open competition classes, including baking, preserves, horticulture, and floral art. Entries are now open online, and both first-time exhibitors and seasoned competitors are encouraged to take part. Expert-led sessions from the National Vegetable Society, Cork Beekeepers Association, and UCC Food Science and Nutrition will feature as part of the weekend with plenty of opportunities to learn and share.

Running alongside the food attractions are family favourites such as the Pet Dog Show, Kids’ Zone, and a full line-up of live music, including a headline performance by Mundy on Sunday 15 June.

There will also be a Relax Space available, offering a calm, inclusive area for families. This year’s official charity partner is My Canine Companion, which provides accredited autism service dogs to children and families across Ireland, will also have a stand in this space.

Free shuttle buses will run throughout the weekend from Ballincollig Shopping Centre, Black Ash Park & Ride, and Curraheen Greyhound Stadium. An extended Bus Éireann 208 route will also be in operation. This direct service drops you right at the Showgrounds and picks you up for an easy return journey. Visitors are strongly encouraged to use the shuttle system, as on-site parking is limited to park-and-ride users.  Children under sixteen go free but must be registered online in advance with a ticket. There is also a special reduced price for ages 16-18. Discounted family and group tickets are available now at corksummershow.com.

Platinum sponsors of the Cork Summer Show 2025 are Cork City Council and Cork County Council, with additional support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Carey Murphy & Partners Solicitors; Bus Éireann; Ovens Coaches Cork; We Are Cork; the National Vegetable Society; the Association of Irish Floral Artists; the Local Enterprise Office; and the Irish Shows Association. Media partners are 96FM & C103FM and the Irish Examiner.

#pressrelease

Cork Summer Show 2017. Town and Country Get-together in the sun.

The Cork Summer Show 2017

Town and Country Get-together in the sun.

Ford 100

The organisers of the Cork Summer Show got the weather they, and it, deserved this weekend and once again it proved to be a very enjoyable occasion, a chance to catch up with old friends, to try something new (like the Cotton’s Ball’s Cascade beer), to pick up info from the County Council tent on the many things to see and do from Mitchelstown to Allihies, from Youghal to Newtownshandrum.

First friendly face we recognised was Sandra Murphy. She had been up late at the previous night's fashion show in the Cork International Hotel but was in bubbly form as always at their desk. We entered a competition there, so fingers crossed!

Then we met Rebecca at the Taste Cork tent, all busy preparing for the day-long schedule of cookery demos. Up and down the rows of trade stalls then before arriving at the County Council stands where we collected quite a few information leaflets on places like Spike Island and Camden Fort Meagher, along with those handy town maps for places like Clonakilty, Youghal etc.

One Horsepower!

It was getting busy at the western section as owners (often with the whole family) prepared the cattle and horses and more for the judges. The equine judges were first in action and I must say I was taken with the side saddle event even if there were just two competitors.

Something cool was now in order and we got a delicious ice-cream from Clonakilty Ice-cream (I recommend the honeycomb!) before moving on to see the petting section. Luckily for the pigs and hunting dogs (there were two packs) here, the tops of their cages were partially covered so that they could enjoy some shade.

The poultry section had quite a few exotic breeds including a big line-up of bantams. The owner of one helpfully opened the cage door for me and I was able to get a close-up of his Polish Bantam hen; the cock was next door but that cage stayed shut! “A high maintenance couple,” the owner confided.

The newly elected City Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald was being shown around as we got back to the entertainment area where many families were sitting on anything from long wooden seats to bean bags) having a bite and a drink and listening to the music or enjoying the magician. 

A bit early perhaps but we did enjoy a glass of that Cascade, a well hopped deliciously flavoured beer from the Cotton Ball, with an abv of just 3.8%. Lots of other choices here too, including local gins and whiskeys. 

By now, lots of old Ford vehicles were motoring into the grounds, cars, vans and tractors, as the show organisers recognised the company’s 100 year old links with the city and county. Some lovely old, and not so old, vehicles here and we got a personal run-down on a 1947 Prefect, even info on courting in the back seat! My Dad had one of these in the early 60s

Polish Bantam

How about a bit to eat? The only problem here was making up your mind; there were so many stalls, big and small, selling food to eat on the spot. A few months back, I got some Peri Peri sauces to sample from Athula and when I saw he was doing food here, I had to try it. And yes indeed, his Peri Peri Chicken Pitta was delicious and nicely spiced (I had asked for medium!). That and a glass of water was dispatched while standing at a barrel table as the sun beat down.

We were into the afternoon now and, having arrived early, stamina was running out. Besides, the dog, who had been left at home, would need to be walked, so we retreated from Curraheen, meeting many people on the way in. This is a huge attraction for town and country and deserves all the support. And they came in record numbers. It is estimated that 27,000 people attended the show on Saturday and a further 33,000 attended on Sunday. 

Perfect Prefect

Cork Summer Show No 209! Numbers Rise Again, Up To 60,000!

Cork Summer Show No 209!

Numbers Rise Again, up to 60,000!

If you’re going to bring tens of thousands of visitors to your show in the fields, then you'd better arrange food for them. The 209th annual Cork Summer Show certainly attracted the visitors in large numbers and, yes indeed, there was no shortage of food, ready to eat on the spot. Lots of tables and benches as well.

All kinds of food were being served up, anything from Asian to Italian to good old Irish and, in between I spotted an Argentinian grill! When I began to get a little hungry I was quite close to O’Crualaoi’s and they had quite a choice and, as is the case in their cafes, the items were well priced. We got two burgers (one steak, one chicken, and a drink) for a tenner all in. Quite a substantial lunch.

Cathal at De Roiste

While there were many selling food to eat, I was disappointed that there were so few producers at the show. I was really expecting to see more. Wasn't expecting though to see Mag Kirwan from Kilkenny but it was a pleasure to again meet the woman (there is also a man!) behind the innovative Goatsbridge Trout Farm. By the way, you can get her gorgeous fresh trout at the fish counter in Dunne’s Stores. Just look out for the Irish farmed trout sign as it is not packaged!

I had been in early enough and that allowed me the chance to have a chat with some of the stallholders before things got hectic. Cathal was fine-tuning the De Roiste displays and had all their black and white puddings and sausages lined up. Excellent products and you could hear the pride sizzling as he spoke. He also introduced me to their Breakfast Time pack, which includes rashers, sausage meat, black and white pudding, egg and mushroom. Easy for the lazy!

Mobile banking!

Also spent a bit of time in the Craft Drinks Tent, especially with Barry Fitzgerald, Brand Manager of the new St Patrick’s Distillery who are based in the old mills at Douglas. They are different to other distillers in that their spirits are potato based. There are easier ways of producing alcohol but the Douglas team believe that it is well worthwhile as their spirits are naturally smooth with the added bonus of a grain free process given a naturally gluten free result.

Certainly that smoothness, some little sweetness too, is evident in their Potato Gin, a classic juniper gin. They won't divulge the full details but most of the regular botanicals are in use here and the potato makes it that bit different from all the others! Worth a try. Widely available around Cork, not so widely (yet) in other counties. See the stockists here.

The drinks tent was fairly well populated with producers. There was beer from the Cotton Ball, Franciscan Well and Blacks of Kinsale, cider by Stonewell and Hyde’s whiskey (which I have yet to try!). But generally, there was a lack of producers overall and I’d personally like to see many more of them for the 210th anniversary next year. Don't know exactly what the problem is. But hard to ignore sixty thousand punters in over the two days.

I hadn't been to the Summer show for a few years and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Great space there for the stands and the parking and everything seemed to be very well run indeed.

Walk this way

It is a terrific place to bring the kids. They had their own “zone”, which includes a small animal pet farm, Bouncy castles and a fairground with some super high flying machines. For something more gentle, there was the option of taking a trip around the Show on board the magical mystery train (Noddy Train).

A family event!

 No shortage of musical entertainment either with a marching band liable to turn up anywhere. The main focus though was the big stage in the Entertainment Zone which saw everything from Crystal Swing to Gospel, Ska to Soul, Funk,Trad (even magic!) and some of the best voices of Ireland. There is also face painters, balloon makers, stilt walkers, and clowns in this area to entertain the kids. And convenient as it is packed with tables and benches and situated right next to the Food Zone.

Too hot for this guy!

In addition there was the equine events, the farrier’s tent, the dog show, trade stands, cows, sheep and poultry and more including a vintage rally zone, farm machinery, and home and garden show.

It is a fantastic day out both for adults and children, for town and country. A record sixty thousand punters is a massive endorsement. Here’s to the 210th edition next year!

He was in the petting enclosure.
I didn't chance it 

Out of the blue