Pádraic Óg Gallagher of Gallagher's Boxty House .

Pádraic Óg Gallagher to appear at 2016 Clonmellon Potato Fest

Clonmellon is "the real birthplace of the Irish potato" and to celebrate this fact the village hosts its Potato Festival this Sunday, August 21.

Guest of honour at this year's event is Pádraic Óg Gallagher of Gallagher’s Boxty House (right), who will host a potato cookery demonstration sponsored by Bord Bia.

There will be lots of great competitions including the popular Potato Peeling and like last year, the festival will take place on the main street of the village between 2pm and 6pm.

The event is a celebration of the Irish potato and the fact that Clonmellon, on the Westmeath/Meath border, is potentially the place where it all began.

Following their successful first year in 2015, Mr Tayto will return to the event, as will a whole range of fun activities for all the family, including Bouncy Castles, Puppet Shows, Music and lots more.

On the Killua Castle Estate on the outskirts of the village stands the 10-metre high Walter Raleigh Obelisk, erected in 1810 by Raleigh's cousin's and in Clonmellon people's view, this marks the spot where it all began.

And so, 5-metre high replica of the Walter Raleigh Obelisk has been commissioned especially for the festival.

The long-term objective of Clonmellon Potato Festival is to grow the event (excuse the pun) into Ireland's national potato festival, and organisers feel that with the combination of the committee and the main sponsors Largo Foods, Meade Potato Company, Westmeath County Council, this event will fulfil its potential.

Last year some 1,500 people attended and organisers are hoping to build on that number this Sunday. Admission is €10 per family.