Newcastle Eats And Beats Festival A Huge Success

Huge Crowds Gather For Eats and Beats Festival

Huge Crowds Gather For Eats and Beats Festival

Savouring the sounds, tastes, and magnificent surroundings of Newry Mourne and Down, huge crowds gathered for the Eats and Beats festival in Newcastle at the weekend.

Food and music lovers in their thousands descended upon the town and were treated to two music stages, local and Northern Irish food producers, and an abundance of food vendors, supported by live music and a world of cuisine.

Festival goers enjoyed delicious fare and drinks at the Producers Pavilion (sponsored by Lexus Belfast) and music lovers danced their way around two music stages, offering the best of homegrown and world music over the two days.

Class act: The Answer lead singer Cormac Neeson from Newcastle flew in from Zurich from a recording session with the band to perform at the Eats and Beats Festival.
(Photos by Jim Masson ©).

If that wasn’t enough, visitors enjoyed a wonderful line-up of cookery demonstrations from the likes of Paul Cunningham, Mourne Food Adventures and Castlescreen Farm who served up a delicious array of local food over the festival weekend.

Crowds delighted in over 60 food and drink stalls at the Homegrown and World food villages in Donard Park. Local food and drink producers, experience and hospitality providers delighted food enthusiasts with the wonderful array of delicious food and craft drinks on offer.

The incredible music line up offered an eclectic mix of styles and genres creating a big festival vibe across the seaside town throughout the weekend.

The Newcastle Ukes get into the swing.

Newcastle reverberated to the sounds of live music from the likes of The Answer, Ryan McMullan, Lemonade Shoelace, Ria Maguire, and Belfast’s very own Brian Kennedy in Donard Park, expertly hosted by Ryan Hand and Ripton Lyndsay.

The Eats and Beats festival in Newcastle ended with a great performance from The Answer who had just flown in from Zurich where they were making their next recording… coming soon! (Photo by Jim MASSON).

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Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said: “The sun shone down on Newcastle at the weekend for a fantastic weekend of ‘Eats and Beats’.

“Crowds from all over Northern Ireland and Ireland, and even from further afield descended upon the town to enjoy a fabulous weekend of live music and wonderful food.

The Skallions rocking at the Eats and Beats festival in Newcastle.

“This first-class food and music festival showcased our strongest assets in one of the district’s most beautiful locations.”

“Newry Mourne and Down is becoming well known for the quality of food and drink offering and it has long had a strong track record for producing talented and successful musicians.

“The Eats and Beats festival rounded off the Council’s summer events programme on a high.

Newcastle singer Stephen Rafferty entertains the crowd.

“But luckily for locals and visitors alike, our autumn programme of events is just around the corner. See full details will be available via the Visit Mourne Mountains website in the coming weeks.”  

Jonathon Lavery, Sales Manager at Lexus Belfast said: “Lexus Belfast is delighted to have sponsored the Producers Pavilion at the 2023 Eats and Beats Festival.

“As a brand, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and striving towards a sustainable future.

“Our aim is to help design the future by delivering Lexus Electrified vehicles and we are glad to be partnering up with the Eats and Beats Festival, who have sustainability and supporting local businesses at the forefront of the event.”

The Mournes backdrop to the Eats and Beats Festival.
Luka Bloom, Irish singer and brother of Christie Moore, got the crowd singing.
The Answer in action in Donard Park in Newcastle playing to a capacity audience in the Eats and Beats Festival as the final act.

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One of Newry Mourne and Down’s Giant Adventures, the popular Footsteps in the Forest festival will also make a welcome return to Slieve Gullion Forest Park from Wednesday 25 to Monday 30 October.

Families and thrill-seekers will encounter enchanting characters, spine-tingling surprises, and immersive storytelling.

In addition to the Giant Adventures festivals there will be an exciting programme of autumn events that will also celebrate the district’s culture and heritage.

These events will add to the fantastic offering already in place for both locals and visitors enjoying their summer in the Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion.

Full details on:

www.visitmournemountains.co.uk

A large crowd attended the Eats and Beats festival in Newcastle. ((Photos by Jim Masson / Down News©).
The Eats and Beats festival in Newcastle ended with a great performance from The Answer who had just flown in from Zurich where they were making their next recording… coming soon! (Photo by Jim MASSON).

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