Food lovers heading to Kilkenny later this week for the Savour Kilkenny festival of food (October 24th-27th) will find an action-packed programme of events running throughout the city, and further afield.

There are free and ticketed events taking place all weekend and among the highlights are cookery demonstrations with chefs including Kevin Dundon, Rory O’Connell, Stephen Gibson and Edward Hayden; Banter sessions with Jim Carroll in the chair; an artisan producers’ long table dinner at The Mill in Bennettsbridge, and a weekend food market in Parade Plaza.

Homes all over the county have signed up for the Night of 1,000 Feasts fundraiser for the Town of Food initiative in Thomastown, which aims to establish a hub for food start-ups, food training and community development. A total of €183,000 has already been raised for this project, and the idea behind Sunday night’s event is that volunteers host meals in their homes and guests contribute to the cause. Local food businesses are offering discounts to hosts (see townoffood.com/events).

Food critics Catherine Cleary, Gillian Nelis and Joe McNamee will have the tables turned on them on Saturday at 4pm when they cook from a mystery bag of ingredients for a judging panel that will include Ken Harker of the Michelin-starred Lady Helen restaurant at Mount Juliet.

Food writer John McKenna launches Olivia Goodwillie's book, Something In The Tin. Biscuits, Cakes & Breads from 30 Years at Lavistown, on Friday at 6pm in the National Craft Gallery.

For a full list of events, see savourkilkenny.com.