Ireland’s biggest vegan festival is happening in Cork this Saturday

By Yay Cork May 7, 2018July 18, 2018

Whether you’ve been vegan for years or you’re simply interested in broadening your palette, circle May 12th on the calendar.

Cork Vegfest, the biggest and best Irish vegan event of 2018 is happening on Leeside, with plant-based treats galore and a first class line-up of speakers to inspire your food choices.

Vegfest will see Cork City Hall transformed into a plant-based food market with local stalls selling vegan cheeses, burgers, hot dogs and salads.

Umi Falafel Cork is one of the sponsors so you can expect a plentiful supply of their crunchy wraps, tabouleh and tahini salads and if you thought vegans don’t enjoy a treat, a decadent dollop of vegan ice cream will prove you wrong.

There’ll be plenty of 100 percent plant-based cakes and chocolate to take home too – once you try a sweet potato brownie you may never go back.

Cruelty free cosmetics are trending right now and at Vegfest you’ll not only be able to fill your basket with gorgeous natural scrubs, creams and masks, you’ll also be able to chat to the very person who made them.

A first for Cork Vegfest is the Vegan Athletes & Health Panel, where were attendees can chat with athletes about training, competing and diet. Tickets are a bargain €10.17 for the day, which gets you access to diet and nutrition talks by a top notch panel.

You don’t even have to be vegan to enjoy it – it’s the ideal introduction to all things plant-based for the vegan-curious. Everyone is welcome to try new foods, take a talk or hang out an soak up the atmosphere.

The line-up includes:

Dr Ailis Brosnan – Your Healthy Living Coach: ‘Powered by Plants – the health benefits of a plant-based diet’
Glauce Lucas – All About Vegan Food: ‘Raising Vegan Children: We’re Doing It Right’
Brett Cobley – EpiVegan: Cruelty free and ethically responsible cooking (his vegan pizza is pictured below)
Nicole Matthews: A vegan mother of three vegan children, Nicole documents her family’s journey through her Facebook page Kind Heart Conscious Planet.

Cork Vegfest Food Demos:

Virginia O’Gara of My Goodness in The English Market, which specialises in vegan, raw, sugar free, gluten free and fermented food.
Louise Kelly: Food writer and author of I’m A Little Vegan
Christina Leopold (above): Vegan recipe developer and food photographer and author of Addicted to Dates (her delicious banana ‘Nicecream’ is below)
Tracey Ryan: Owner of Bia Beauty, a 100 percent natural, Cork-made skincare brand