04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tralee Food Festival set for ‘tasty tussle' between Ireland's top social media stars
On May 18, popular sisters Breeda Hurley and Miriam Moriarty Owens of Johnny's Cottage take on TikTok titan Shane McCarthy. Celebrity chef and Tralee's own Italian Culinary King, Max Massimiliano Bagaglini will attempt to keep tabs on what promises to be an afternoon not to be missed.
Johnny's Cottage is described as 'an unstoppable Tralee duo' who have turned Monday night Facebook Live streams into a national obsession, racking up over 30,000 viewers per session. Breeda and Miriam's infectious humour and off-the-cuff antics – think apple tarts gone wild and kiddie pool cookery – have made them social media royalty.
Not to be outdone, Shane McCarthy is the 23-year-old Tralee-based TikTok sensation who's taken the internet by storm, hitting 100,000 followers since his viral coming-out moment in January 2024. With his Kerry Traveller roots, and the art for blending heartfelt tales with pure charisma, Shane's ready to cook up a storm.
And who better to judge this epic face-off than the RTE Today Show Chef, Massimiliano Bagaglini – the genius behind Tralee's Convivium Italian Gourmet. The Italian will crown the winner of this tasty tussle, though with this much fun on the menu, everyone's in for a treat.
It's billed as a battle of social media titans that's as newsworthy as it is delicious and is guaranteed to crowd-please with laughs, gasps, and culinary madness.
'We've struck gold with Breeda, Miriam, and Shane: three social media sensations who light up screens and kitchens alike,' said one of the festival organisers Ken Tobin.
'Max won't take any prisoners, so you've got a recipe for absolute mayhem. This is Tralee at its funniest and finest—don't miss it!'
The Tralee Food Festival will offer over 100 artisan stalls and food trucks, and free live entertainment all weekend. But it's the Calor Tent cook-off that's set to break the internet.
