Enjoy the seafood flavours and the chefs’ creativity, as well as loads of family events.

For a start, it’s also Sammy the Seal’s birthday. Sammy has been a major attraction in Wicklow Town for a number of years now and appears on the quay three times a day for feeding. He’ll be there, as always, on the 11th but there will also be boat trips and paddle boarding to the Black Castle and Wicklow Head and lots of other water activities on South Quay.

It really is a day for the family with Pirate’s Cove Train, puppet shows, face painting and live music all along the quays.

There will be food stalls and tastings and cookery demonstrations running from 1.30 to 4.30pm thanks to:

Alan and Tom from Fishman and The Lighthouse Restaurant
Andy from The Bridge Tavern
Richard from Pepe’s Italian Restaurant
Santiago from Wicklow Co Berries & Relish (formerly Pizza del Forno)

Local artisan food producers will also be there, including:

Aughrim Farmer’s Market
The Birds & The Teas
Black Castle Drinks
Wicklow Brewery

It all starts at 11am on the South Quay and runs through the day to 7pm.

Co-organiser and restaurateur Alan Hegarty commented: “This will be one of the biggest days of the summer for Wicklow Town. We get a lot of visitors and our businesses are well-supported by local people but this is our chance to give something back. The water activities and music will give the Wicklow Seafood Festival 2017 a carnival-type atmosphere but the whole focus will be on seafood: The great recipes, hints and tips. We’re all really looking forward to it.”

He added: “ Oh, and Happy Birthday Sammy.”