Rachel Allen, Edward Hayden and leading Carlow chefs join a packed Food & Drink Experience at Coppenagh House Farm, Tullow, this October Bank Holiday weekend
Food lovers and families are in for a treat this October Bank Holiday weekend as the Big Barn Bash brings together some of Ireland’s best-known chefs, leading local culinary talent, food and drink producers, farmers and industry experts for two action-packed days at Coppenagh House Farm, Tullow, on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026.
The first-ever Big Barn Bash will transform a working Carlow farm into a family festival celebrating the county’s food culture, agricultural heritage and farmyard life, with two days of cattle, cooking, craft food and family entertainment.
At the heart of the weekend will be the Food & Drink Show, featuring live cookery, local flavours and food inspiration, complemented by the Brew & Harvest Food Zone, bringing food, local produce and County Carlow’s agricultural heritage together in one festival experience.
Rachel Allen and Edward Hayden Lead Exciting Chef Line-Up
Headlining the culinary programme will be bestselling cookery writer, television chef and Ballymaloe Cookery School teacher Rachel Allen, alongside chef, food writer, broadcaster and culinary lecturer Edward Hayden.
They will be joined by an impressive selection of local and regional culinary talent, including:
· Caolán Prendergast, Executive Head Chef, Woodford Dolmen Hotel
· Cian Waters, co-owner, Waterlilies, Carlow and Tullow
· Jamiul Alam, owner and Head Chef, New Moon Indian Restaurant, Tullow
· Nigel Cloney, Executive Head Chef, Talbot Hotel Carlow
· Josephine O’Neill, Macra President
· Igor Buturla, Head Chef, Lennon’s @ VISUAL
· Maggie Roche, guest chef on RTÉ's Today Show and formerly of Little Acorns Café
· Tom Phelan, former Head Pastry Chef, Lady Helen Restaurant, Mount Juliet
Saturday will also feature Josephine O'Neill, Macra President, adding another important voice from Ireland's farming and rural community.
The official Big Barn Bash programme describes its live cookery demonstrations as an opportunity to watch leading regional chefs create dishes using quality local ingredients, forming a central part of the festival's "Foodie's Paradise" offering. [bigbarnbash.ie]
A Family Experience Built Around Food, Farming and Fun
Speaking ahead of the event, Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise, said the festival provides an opportunity to celebrate great food while creating a memorable experience for families.
“The Big Barn Bash is about creating a fantastic family experience while giving people a real taste of the quality, creativity and talent we have here in Carlow. Food brings generations together, and across the weekend families will be able to watch outstanding chefs at work, meet producers, hear where their food comes from and enjoy all the fun of a festival on a working farm.
“It is also a great showcase for the entrepreneurs, farmers, food and drink producers, hospitality businesses and tourism providers who contribute so much to Carlow’s economy. We want people to come to Tullow, spend the day with us, discover something new about Carlow food and farming and, most importantly, have a brilliant family day out.”
And there will be plenty for families beyond the cookery stage. The festival's Kids Experience will feature farm fun, play and opportunities to explore, while the Moo Crew Active Zone, presented in partnership with Active Carlow, encourages families and visitors of all ages to get active and enjoy the outdoors.
The weekend will also feature the inaugural Coppenagh Coo 5km Carlow Chase 2026, adding another fun and active dimension to the festival programme.
A Celebration of Carlow on a Plate
Local ingredients and provenance will feature prominently throughout the Food & Drink Experience.
Caolán Prendergast will bring the flavours of Carlow into his breakfast and brunch demonstrations. His Saturday dishes include a classic Eggs Benedict featuring Clonmore Bacon and a Carlow Hash Bowl using local pudding, sausages, poached eggs and fried Rooster potatoes.
On Sunday, he turns to the sweeter side of brunch, demonstrating a Waffle Stack topped with Carlow bacon and maple syrup alongside homemade Banana Bread.
Cian Waters will present The Perfect Pairings: Bread, Cheese and Wine, combining handcrafted artisan sourdough breads with award-winning Carlow Farmhouse Cheese and biodynamic wines.
Visitors can also experience the flavours of Indian cuisine with Tullow restaurateur Jamiul Alam, while Dave Cuddihy will bring his experience and focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients to the demonstration stage.
Sunday's line-up continues with Edward Hayden, Maggie Roche, Tom Phelan and Olivia Raftery, offering visitors another full day of culinary inspiration.
Big Conversations About Local Food
The Big Barn Bash Food & Drink Experience is not just about watching great food being cooked. A dedicated series of discussions will explore Carlow's food story and some of the bigger questions facing farmers, producers, businesses and consumers.
Carlow on a Plate: Past, Present & Future
A journey through Carlow's food story exploring what was grown and eaten in the past, what makes the county's food scene interesting today and what might be on our plates in the future.
Speakers across the weekend include Seamus O'Hara of O'Hara's Beer, Leslie Codd of Codd Mushroom, Richard Cooper and Rebecca Carter of Our Food Roots
From Field to Fork
This discussion takes audiences behind the food on their plates, meeting the farmer, agricultural supplier, chef and food businesses involved along the journey from farm to consumer.
Participants include Jimmy Minnock of Charles R Wynne, Robert and Ciara Stanley of Coppenagh House Farm, Rodrigo Gonzalez of Tabú Tapas and Edward Hayden.
Does Local Food Really Matter?
A lively conversation examining what "local" actually means, its value to consumers and communities and whether the additional cost sometimes associated with local produce is justified.
Contributors over the weekend include Dr Brian Leonard of UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, farmer and former Macra President Elaine Houlihan, Rebecca Carter, Carina Rosingrave and Shane Halpin.
Food and Drink at the Heart of the Carlow Visitor Experience
Eileen O'Rourke of Carlow Tourism said the Big Barn Bash provides an important platform to connect Carlow's food and drink offering with the overall visitor experience.
“Food and drink are an incredibly important part of how visitors experience a destination. People increasingly want to do more than simply have a meal. They want to discover great local produce, meet the personalities behind it and understand the story of a place through its food.
“The Big Barn Bash brings those elements together in a really engaging way. We have nationally recognised chefs alongside Carlow chefs, producers, farmers and food businesses, as well as some fascinating conversations about where our food comes from and why local matters. Combine that with the atmosphere of Coppenagh House Farm and a programme of family activities, and it creates a really distinctive visitor experience. It is another opportunity to demonstrate that great food, warm hospitality and memorable experiences are central to what Carlow has to offer.”
Brew & Harvest Brings the Festival Flavours Together
Visitors will have plenty of opportunities to eat and drink throughout their day. The festival's Brew & Harvest Food Zone is designed as a celebration of great food, local flavour and the agricultural heritage of County Carlow and the South East.
The festival website also highlights The Cozy Barn, with speciality coffee, artisan hot chocolates and sweet treats, together with gourmet food-on-the-go and street food featuring quality local produce and craft butcher partnerships.
Together, the chefs, talks, local producers, food vendors and farming activities will demonstrate the connections between what is grown and produced locally, the businesses that transform those ingredients and the food ultimately enjoyed around the family table.
Plan Your Big Barn Bash Weekend
The Big Barn Bash takes place at Coppenagh House Farm, Tullow, Co. Carlow, on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026.
The event includes:
- Food & Drink Show with live cookery demonstrations and local flavours
- Brew & Harvest Food Zone
- Kids Experience with farm fun, play and exploration
- Moo Crew Active Zone, in partnership with Active Carlow
- Coppenagh Coo 5km Carlow Chase 2026
- Food, farming and local-produce conversations
- Family entertainment on a working farm
Day tickets and family passes are available through Eventbrite, with children under three admitted free.
Tickets and Full Programme
For tickets, programme information and the latest event details, visit: