Clonmellon is "the real birthplace of the Irish potato" and to celebrate this fact the village hosts its Potato Festival each year with a fantastic mix of fun and entertainment for the whole family..

There will be lots of great competitions including the popular Potato Peeling to determine who the fastest peeler in the village is 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.

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.

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 Meade Potato Company, Westmeath County Council, this event will fulfil its potential.

The festival draws a crowd too, with previous events boasting over 1,500 people.  The organisers are hoping to build on that number each year. Admission is €10 per family with concessions for the elderly and unwaged.

Potato Festival 2019, Sunday September 22nd from 12.00pm to 4.00pm.