If you’ve ever wanted to try some authentic Scottish and Irish food and beverages, you’ll have your chance to eat and drink your fill at CelticFest, with the Celtic Kiosk opening Saturday from 2pm and Sunday from 9am-4pm, and the Celtic Canteen operating Sunday only from 9am-4pm.
Chief among the items on offer is the delicious Scottish haggis (trust me, don’t think about it, just eat it, you will love it!), which will be served up in pies, sausage rolls and burgers, with the haggis supplied from Syd’s Pies, a Brisbane-based distributor of British foods. Haggis is an offal-based, seasoned delicacy in Scotland and is enjoyed year around, often served with neeps (mashed parsnips) and tatties (mashed potato), especially on Burns Night, January 25, when it is ceremonially addressed during Burns Night suppers, and when a dram of whisky is also imbibed.
For those who are not fans of haggis, Guinness pies, Scotch Pies, Cornish pasties, and Barry’s tea and soda bread (tea and soda bread Sunday only) will also be available. The wedge-shaped Cornish pasty hails from Cornwall, and can be either savoury (including meat, potatoes and other vegetables) or sweet (including fruit, jams or sweetened rice); Cornish pasties at CelticFest will be savoury. A Scotch pie is a double-crusted meat pie, which is double-crusted for extra durability during soggy Scottish football (soccer) matches – mmmmm, delicious!
Those wanting a light snack could do worse than to crack open a packet of Keogh’s chips (Ireland) and catch a breath of that fresh Irish air as you do: choose from Shamrock and Sour Cream, or Atlantic Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar. Cheese and onion crisps are also available from another Irish brand, Tayto’s.
And then to wash it all down, how about some of Scotland’s national soft drink, Irn-bru? Often described as Scotland’s other national drink – after whisky, naturally – this orange-flavoured drink is the top-selling soft-drink in Scotland, even beating out Coca-Cola! Alternatively, you could try a Lilt Grapefruit and Pineapple Soda.
Guinness will again be available on tap at Geraghty’s Irish Bar this year, where you can also purchase Magner’s Irish Cider, choose from a selection of Scotch whisky – including brands such as Jameson, Ledaig, Balvenie and Bruichladdich – or sup on a Proper No. 12 Irish Whisky or a Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Immerse yourself in CelticFest – from the inside out, as well as the outside in!
CelticFest is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
CelticFest received funding from SDRC’s Community Grants funding and the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Southern Downs Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
For more information about CelticFest and CelticFringe, please visit the CelticFest website at www.celticfestqld.com.au and www.celticfestqld.com.au/cletic-community-fri-sun, and follow CelticFest on Facebook and Instagram.
