Join us at King John’s Castle for Appletown Apple Fest – A Celebration of Local Food, Culture, Heritage and Community, as part of the SLOWTour Food Festival.

Inspired by Appletown Wonder, one of Limerick’s heritage apple varieties, this special event celebrates the city and county’s apple-growing heritage through heritage apple tastings, traditional apple pressing, talks, film, creative workshops and community activities.

Discover the stories behind Limerick’s traditional apple varieties and explore how orchards connect local food, biodiversity, heritage and community.

What’s On?

Heritage Apple Tasting & Apple Pressing

10.30am–4pm | Castle Courtyard

Discover and taste Limerick heritage apple varieties with the Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA), including Appletown Wonder, Lough Gur, Sweeten and Lemon Apple. Learn about their history and importance to Ireland’s food biodiversity, and sample freshly pressed apple juice made using heritage apples.

Limerick’s Apple Varieties & The Orchard Way

11.30am–12pm | Castle Suite

Join Elaine Bradley, Director of Irish Seed Savers, to discover Limerick’s heritage apples and learn about The Orchard Way, a community initiative connecting orchards, biodiversity, local food and heritage.

The Apple Project – Talk & Q&A

12.30–1pm | Castle Suite

Hear from Limerick Civic Trust about The Apple Project and its vision to reconnect Limerick with its historic orchard heritage by exploring community orchards in urban green spaces.

Appletown – Film Screening & Q&A

1–1.45pm | Castle Suite

Watch Appletown, a short documentary by Cracking Light Productions exploring Limerick’s orchard heritage and the Civic Trust Orchard Project, followed by a Q&A with Producer Meave Stone.

Apple Tree Leaf Monoprinting Art Workshop

2.30–3.30pm | Ages 6–12 | Castle Suite

A fun, hands-on creative workshop where children can use apple leaves and apple centres from Irish Seed Savers’ heritage orchards to create unique nature-inspired prints.

Apple Tart Competition – The Queen of Tarts

3.30–4pm | Castle Suite

Think your apple tart is the best? Bring your homemade creation and put it to the test! The Queen of Tarts will judge the entries, with the winner crowned Appletown Apple Tart Champion.

Plan Your Visit

Tickets for the talks, film screening and art workshop are available for a nominal €2 fee. Ticket holders will also receive complimentary access to the castle courtyard tasting experience, including the heritage apple displays, apple tasting and traditional apple pressing.

Places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors who wish to explore the wider King John’s Castle experience will require standard admission.

Appletown Apple Fest is delivered in partnership with Irish Seed Savers Association, Limerick Civic Trust and Cracking Light Productions.

Come along, taste Limerick’s heritage and discover the story of the apple.