Nearly 70,000 people attended the Galway Food Festival, which was held over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Irish chefs and artisan producers displayed produce to national and international visitors at the fifth annual edition of the festival.
The Galway Advertiser reports that interest in the festival was at a high this year after Galway was recently selected as a Region of Gastronomy for 2018.
The theme of this year's festival was '100 Years of Irish Food' and it coincided with the 2016 Easter Rising centenary programme. Local hoteliers experienced a high demand in bookings for the festival, while restaurants, eateries, pubs and retailers saw their programme events sell out.
Visiting chefs included Gavin Mc Donagh of Brioche Ranelagh, Wade Murphy of 1826 Adare and Michelin Star chef Ross Lewis of Chapter One Restaurant. A 1916 inspired tasting menu at Michelin Star Restaurant Aniar was also an event that enticed many international visitors.
Councillor Frank Fahy, mayor of Galway City, commented: "The economic and financial importance of the Galway Food Festival cannot be overstated. There are more than 10,000 jobs in the restaurant, retail, and gastro pub trade in Galway city and county, excluding food producers, farmers and distributors which is hugely significant for the local economy".
