Cork set to sizzle
The Cork Independent can confirm that June is going to be the hottest month of the year on Leeside – but not because of the weather.
Running across the weekend of 27-28 June at the Marina Market, Ireland's first major chili festival will be burning the mouths off locals thanks to the efforts of over 60 artisan hot sauce producers.
The inaugural Irish Chili Festival will be free for all to attend with live music and chili eating competitions hosted by Clifton Chili Club – the world's most-watched chili YouTube channel with over 300 million views.
Speaking ahead of the festival’s first outing, aptly named Neil Numb, festival founder, highlighted the growing interest in hot food in Ireland.
He said: “Ireland has developed a serious appetite for chili culture. We've seen Irish hot sauce producers winning international awards, commercial chili farming becoming viable, and RTÉ even identified Irish consumers as 'chilli fiends' in 2024. The timing felt perfect to bring a proper festival to Ireland.”
Mr Numb is also the man behind the hugely successful Berlin Chili Festival which has been running since 2020 and which drew more than 13,000 attendees across three events in 2025.
Both Saturday and Sunday will feature live chili eating competitions hosted and filmed by Clifton Chili Club for their global YouTube audience. The competitions are open to everyone and brave festivalgoers can sign up in person at the stage before 1pm each day on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mr Numb said: “These competitions are always a highlight. Watching someone tackle a Carolina reaper for the first time is pure entertainment, and Clifton Chili Club brings professional filming and global reach that gives our competitors their moment of fame – or infamy!”
Visitors can expect over 60 hot sauce vendors showcasing products from across Europe and Ireland, along with live music on Saturday featuring Ireland's all-female tribute act, The Red Hot Cheeky Peppers.
The Marina Market’s food court will offer 30 food stalls featuring international cuisines, alongside the chili eating competitions.
The event also includes kids' activities and a family-friendly atmosphere. While entry is free, donations are accepted to help cover costs. The festival is expected to draw over 6,000 attendees, in addition to Marina Market's regular weekend footfall of over 6,000 visitors.
Among the confirmed Irish vendors are Mic's Chilli; Haggard Wolf Hot Sauce; Revelation Sauce Co; Mi Amor; Little Reds Sauces; BRAZEN Chilli; Garnacha; Joy of Foods; Blackfire Food; The Shepherds Pantry; Seeds & Stuff; Eco Marina/Eco Fish; Sow Diverse CLG; Natural Gourmet Foods; Mr Burn; Viva Mexico Products; Renegade Trading; Mex-I-Can Sauces; Dripsey Castle Estate; A Bit on the Side; and Nok Foods Ltd.