Glendalough will host some of Ireland's leading food experts this June, as they bring spices, cocktails and lots of good food to the valley.

This is all part of Beyond The Plate, part of the Beyond the Pale festival, which runs at Glendalough estate, Co. Wicklow, from Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14

The food and drink programme of the festival will see top chefs, writers and makers exploring the stories and surprises behind modern Irish food.

This will be the 'Spice Bag' edition of Beyond the Plate, which "explores the mix of culture, creativity, and rebellion that defines Irish food, tracing how global exchange and local ingenuity continue to push our food scene forward", the organisers said.

It is being curated by food writer and culinary curator Ali Dunworth, who said that this year, Beyond The Plate is all about a bit of spice, from spice routes to spice cupboard, spicy drinks, new ideas, and trailblazers in the world of food and drink.

Spice Bag line-up

This year’s line-up brings together some of Ireland’s most recognisable food voices, from presenter and food influencer Cassie Stokes to pizza king Reggie White, Joe Macken of Crackbird and Jo’Burger fame, award-winning pastry chef Shane Smith, The Cupcake Bloke Graham Herterich, and spice guru Arun Kapil.

In true Beyond The Plate style, the stage will go 'beyond the pale', telling stories through flavour, sound, and conversation.

There will be a look into the past and present of Irish hospitality from ancient trade routes to today’s multicultural kitchens and the people who keep reimagining what it means to eat, cook, and share food in modern Ireland.

Festival goers can expect food and drink demos, tastings, culinary collaborations, lively panels, big personalities and insider knowledge.

Strong opinions will sit alongside standout producers and chefs at the top of their game, with a few surprises woven through the three day weekend.

Food and farming journalist and broadcaster Suzanne Campbell, along with Wicklow chef Niall O’Sullivan from Kilruddery Estate and hunter and griller Andy Noonan will be questioning why Ireland does not eat more venison when "we’re overrun with deer".

Three Dublin culinary hotspots are heading to the country for this year’s festival.

Ranelagh’s Host brings its primal, fire‑led cooking and generous shared plates; Reggie’s, the cult Rathmines pizzeria, serves its signature pies; and Ibíle showcases bold west African flavours and spice‑driven dishes designed for sharing. 

From functional, fix-me drinks, NA beers, cocktails and wine in cans, drinks writer Aoife Carrigy will take festival-goers through the beverages of the moment with a panel of producers: Anna Malsam and Dave Saunders from Hytropics; Fergal Carroll, co-founder of Fierce Mild; Karl Cooney from Dublin Cocktail Lab; and Vincent O'Boyle and Phil Ellison from Sip.

Beyond The Plate events are included in the Beyond The Pale festival ticket, which are available now.