Street Feast returns this May to help neighbours across Galway connect. Neighbourhoods across the country are being invited to pull up a chair, share some?food?and say hello during Ireland’s national weekend of community lunches and gatherings, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24.
Street Feasts are already set up for Knocknacarra, Barna, Athenry, Salthill and Ballinasloe. With more people looking for real moments of community, President Catherine Connolly, patron of Street Feast, is encouraging households everywhere to get involved.
Now in its 16th year, the national weekend has grown into something simple but powerful; a chance for neighbours to come together in a way that makes everyday life feel a little warmer and more connected.
With more people looking for real moments of community, President Catherine Connolly, Patron of Street Feast, is encouraging households everywhere to get involved. “As patron, I am delighted to support Street Feast, which brings neighbours together and strengthens communities through the simple act of sharing a meal.”
This year marks the beginning of a new chapter as Tesco Ireland steps in as Street Feast’s sponsor for the next three years.
With Tesco’s support, Street Feast is aiming high, with an ambition to grow participation from 962 neighbourhoods last year to 1,200 feasts in 2026, helping thousands more people come together across the country.
Last year, an estimated 88,000 people took part, a 24 per cent rise in hosts, providing a clear sign of how strongly people value real-world connections.
New research from the Street Feast team shows participants are twice as likely to know their neighbours well after taking part in a Street Feast. Seventy five per cent of hosts say their area feels friendlier afterwards, while 43 per cent met neighbours from different cultures or backgrounds for the first time.
These are the kinds of small, everyday interactions that make a difference. A simple shared table, a chat at the end of the street – these are the moments that help turn a place where you live into a place where you feel you belong.
Hosting a Street Feast doesn’t require much more than a spot to gather and a willingness to bring people together.
Anyone who registers at StreetFeast.ie will get a free party pack delivered to their door, stocked with bunting, posters, invitations and a DIY guide. There’s also the option to collect a pack from one of 20 participating Tesco stores. These Tesco packs come with all the standard goodies, along with Tesco sample favourites for the table, street chalk and simple games to help break the ice.
In line with Tesco’s commitment to helpfulness, the packs – along with recipes, ideas and tips – are designed to take the stress out of organising and make hosting feel achievable for everyone.
“At its heart, Street Feast starts with a simple hello," said Sam Bishop, cofounder and CEO of Street Feast. "Even as we stay connected online, many of us still don’t know who lives next door. Street Feast creates moments that spark real conversations and genuine connections that last long after the day itself.”
Street Feast is a project of Neighbourhood Network, an all-island social enterprise and charity which seeks to promote social inclusion, tackle loneliness and build supportive and resilient neighbourhoods. With growing participation nationwide, Street Feast is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen communities in both urban and rural Ireland. It aligns with national and local government policy on social cohesion, community development, and promoting wellbeing. By creating more connected, engaged neighbourhoods, they reduce loneliness, support integration and help every community feel like home.
Street Feast is made possible thanks to the generous support of the following campaign partners: the Department of Rural and Community Development, the local authorities, and Tesco Ireland.
