What's Happening
On Tuesday, 24th March 2026, the elegant Ballykealey House Hotel in Ballon, Co. Carlow will host Embracing Change: An Evening of Health & Wellbeing - a warm, community-focused event designed to inspire healthier living, stronger connections, local food, and practical environmental action.
Running from 6:30pm to 10:00pm, the evening brings together local food voices, wellbeing insights, and sustainable living inspiration.
The highlight of the event is a must‑see live cookery demonstration from Ballykealey House Hotel Chef Viktoria Boratyn, showcasing delicious, seasonal dishes taken from Carlow's newly launched food waste recipe book Saved & Savoured, that make it easy to reduce food waste at home.
Event Highlights
6:30pm – Arrival & Refreshments. Guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments while connecting with neighbours, exploring the many stands, and exploring community food initiatives.
7:00pm – Meet Local Food Producers and Educators. Discover how choosing local supports personal health and wellbeing, local food producers, community resilience, and our shared environment as we chat to a local educator Derek Oman, Café Owner Paula Leyden, Food Producer Ciara Stanley, and Mushroom Grower Mikael Galvez.
7:30pm – “Thrive with Lorraine” Talk. A practical and engaging session on the relationship between gut health and mental wellbeing, and how everyday food choices influence how we feel.
8:00pm – The Evening’s Standout Experience: Live Cookery Demonstration. The event culminates in an inspiring cookery demo by Chef Wiktoria Boratyn, who will bring the new County Carlow Food Waste Recipe Book to life, share simple, seasonal, budget-friendly recipes, offer real-world tips for reducing food waste and show how to make nourishing meals your family will love, with recipes taken from the book.
This demonstration is designed to leave guests motivated, confident, and excited to try new ideas at home.
Supporting Sustainable Change in Carlow
The evening also marks the launch of Saved & Savoured, Celebrating Carlow's Food without the Waste recipe book that celebrates Carlow's food without the waste. This is a community initiative aimed at helping us all reduce waste, save money, and make the most of local ingredients.
Tickets – €10 + €1.70 booking fee
Includes:
- Browse the extensive stands
- Access to all talks and the cookery demonstration
- Entry into the evening raffle & pot luck prizes
- Free refreshments and food tasters
- A complimentary copy of the brand‑new recipe book Saved & Savoured, Celebrating Carlow's Food without the Waste.
Tickets can be booked online, with limited availability expected due to strong community interest
Building a Healthier Future Together
Embracing Change is more than an event, it’s a celebration of local food, shared knowledge, and positive community action. By bringing together producers, health advocates, chefs, educators and residents, the evening aims to spark simple, practical changes that benefit our community and the wider environment alike.
For more information or booking details, email dswell@carlowcoco.ie or for transport enquiries, email dpower@carlowcoco.ie