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Thousands of food and music lovers attended the Eats & Beats Festival in Donard Park, Newcastle over the weekend, 5 and 6 September. Organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the two-day festival featured live music, local food and family entertainment set against the backdrop of the stunning Mournes.
This year marked a new chapter for the festival, with ticketing introduced for the first time to help manage capacity and support a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. Food remained central to the event, with more than 24 food vendors and 18 regional food producers showcasing local flavours and artisan produce throughout the weekend.
The Cookery Demonstrations proved popular with festivalgoers on both days, hosted by Paul Cunningham, who also cooked live. He was joined by Jenny Bristow, Suzie Lee, Paula McIntyre, Adam Morrison, Ryan Harrison and Bradley Webster, who shared recipes, cooking tips and culinary inspiration with audiences.
Music fans enjoyed more than 24 live performances on the Homegrown and World stages, with a programme spanning pop, rock, country, punk, blues, ska, reggae and international sounds. The weekend line-up included D:Ream, Eric Bell & When Ireland Rocked, JC Stewart, Lisa McHugh, Muireann Bradley, The Outcasts, Anna's Number and Taylor Lally, alongside World Stage performances from The Skallions, Magwere, Baile An Salsa, Havana Roots, Manouche and more. Families also enjoyed entertainment and activities throughout the weekend, including the Kids Zone and Curious Minds Experience.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna, said it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying Eats & Beats and the fantastic atmosphere in Newcastle over the weekend. "The festival is a brilliant showcase for the quality and diversity of our local food and drink offering, while bringing together an exciting mix of musical talent and family entertainment." Cllr Hanna added that events such as Eats & Beats play an important role in attracting visitors to the area, supporting local businesses and showcasing Newcastle and the wider Mourne Gullion Strangford destination. "I would like to thank everyone who attended, along with our chefs, performers, producers, traders, local businesses, event partners, staff and everyone involved in making the weekend such a success."
Eats & Beats forms part of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's programme of events designed to attract visitors, support the local tourism and hospitality sector and showcase the breadth of experiences available in the Mourne Gullion Strangford area.
The next event in the Mourne Gullion Strangford Giant Adventures events programme is Footsteps in the Forest, taking place at Slieve Gullion Forest Park from Wednesday 21 to Tuesday 27 October 2026.
The popular autumn event will return with an immersive Halloween experience for visitors to enjoy in the spectacular surroundings of Slieve Gullion Forest Park.
For more information and inspiration on visiting Mourne Gullion Strangford, visit visitmournegullionstrangford.com.
