Scoop & a yarn, powered by Square
Scoop Food Magazine brings its food storytelling event ‘Scoop & a yarn’ to Dingle Food Festival this year in partnership with Ireland’s premier payment solution company, Square. Together they’ll be powering lots of chats with Irish food and drink producers, food writers, chefs, and local personalities to fuel two days of fun banter and craic. From food memories to kitchen tales, makers’ stories to local food history; conversations will abound. Hosted by Scoop’s editor Dee Laffan. The event is taking place in Benners Hotel on Saturday 4th October from 12-4pm and Sunday 5th from 1-4pm.
Event Schedule
| SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER | NAME OF DISCUSSION | DESCRIPTION | GUESTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-12.30pm | The quintessential Irish ingredient: sea salt | Exploring why Irish sea salt, steeped in centuries of tradition and flavour, isn’t just a finishing touch, but the essential ingredient woven through the story of Ireland’s food and producers. | Catherine Kinsella, Saltrock Dairy and Marie Holden, West of Dingle Salt |
| 12.45-1.15pm | Cultured crops: beyond the vegetable patch | Meet Irish growers who transform their vegetables into bold, fermented flavours - from kombucha and kimchi to sauces - that celebrate the creativity and culture behind every crop. | Anthony O'Toole, Fat Tomato and Niamh McNally, McNally's Family Farm |
| 1.30-2pm | What's Shaping Ireland's Plate & Pint Glass? | Trends are always stirring the pot. Whether we like it or not, they are the indicators for where our food and drink culture has come from, is presently and what the future holds for Irish cuisine and drinks menu. But what trends are just fads? Which ones have substance? And what will we be drinking and eating in the future? | Dee Laffan, Scoop Food Magazine and Ali Dunworth,The Kitchen Press substack and author of A Compendium of Irish Pints: The Culture, Customs & Craic |
| 2.15-2.45pm | Mná na Féirme | Three trailblazing Irish women share their experiences from goats’ cheese, beef, and dairy farms—celebrating resilience, innovation, and the diverse flavours women bring to farming. | Bronagh O'Rourke, Burren Farm Experience, Siobhán Ní Ghàirbhith, St Tola Goats Cheese, and Janine Kennedy, dairy farmer and journalist with Irish Farmers Journal |
| 3-4pm | 2025 Blas na hÉireann winners | A celebratory discussion with a few of this year's big winners. | TBA |
| 13:00 | Young innovators | Innovation and creativity are the life force behind every successful business, and nowhere is this more evident than in food and drink production. Blas na hÉireann recognises this talent annually at its awards and several young producers have been honoured over the years. Their stories inspire future producers, making Ireland a hotspot for food creativity and quality. | Keith Loftus, All About Kombucha, Matthew Collins, Sibly Food Co, and more TBA! |
| 14:00 | Dining in dingle | Dingle has one of the most vibrant and varied restaurant scenes in the country from food trucks to casual dining and the best seafood imaginable. We'll chat to a panel of diners and restaurateurs about what makes it so unique and special. | Micheál Flannery, The Fish Box and Jamie Ó Flannúra, local content creator |
| 15:00 | The perfect pairing | Exploring the art and science of pairing, from wine to non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails, to unlock harmony and elevate flavour in every bite and sip. | Patricia Rogers, author of Zing Thing, Karen Coakley, Kenmare Food Tours and Mary O'Sullivan, Beara Bitters |