Herbfeast Ireland
Ireland's Annual Professional Herbalist Conference
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Annual Herbfeast
MAY 14th to 16th
Herb Feast 2027: Living Wild!
14th – 16th May 2027 | Bellurgan Park, Cooley Peninsula, County Louth
We are gathering once again for Herbfeast 2027. While our full program and speaker list are still brewing, we are excited to share a sneak peek of what’s to come. Expect a weekend of deep botanical connection, shared wisdom, and practical hands-on herbalism.
Who is Coming in 2027?
We are thrilled to welcome an incredible lineup of practitioners to guide this year's sessions (specific topics to be announced soon!):
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Fred Gilham – Mycotherapist, sharing deep insights into the world of medicinal mushrooms.
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Brigid Mayes – Exploring the fascinating history of Irish historical physicians.
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Sarah Hawkins – Diving into the intersection of herbal medicine, clinical nutrition and diet.
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David Wiston - To be Confirmed.
What’s On for HerbFeast 2027?
This year, we are shifting our focus toward more interactive, hands-on breakout sessions to get you out of your seat and into the plants.
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The Bee Hive Clinic: A collaborative, 1-hour problem-solving forum. Three herbalists (it could be you!) will each present a challenging clinical case or medicine-making puzzle, opening the floor to the collective brilliance of the room to troubleshoot and solve it together.
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The Wortcunning Moot: What a name! Wortcunning is an archaic term for the knowledge of plants, from the Old English wyrt (plant) and cunnan (to know). Moot comes from the Old English mōt, meaning an assembly or gathering — historically a deliberative meeting — and survives in modern English as the adjective moot, meaning “open to debate”. This will be a 2-hour, fast-paced showcase where 10-12 pre-selected attendees can share short lightning talks on their greatest clinical herbal insights, favourite plant preparation, recipe or extract, and practice triumphs, followed by an open Q&A.
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Breakouts:
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Muscle Testing for allergies with Christine Herbert.
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Practical Mushroom Workshops with Fred Gilham.
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Guided Herb Walks.
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Forest Bathing to ground and reconnect (TBC).
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- The Saturday Night Herbal Questionnaire: And, of course, our weekend wouldn't be complete without the beloved Saturday night quiz hosted by Danny O'Rawe & Keith Robertson & accompanied by a few wonderful tunes performed by Keith himself.
Our 2027 Home: An Enchanting Setting Steeped in Myth
Herb Feast 2027 takes place in the truly earthy setting of Bellurgan Park, a historic 18th-century estate conveniently nestled between Dublin and Belfast (1 hour drive from either city!).
Bellurgan Park House sits beneath the Hill of Ochaine (see the tree-covered hill behind the house on the image), where the legendary Irish hero Cú Chulainn stood watch during the epic tale of the Táin Bó Cuailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley).
Today, this hill is covered by over 200 acres of a native deciduous forest, where paths wind past an archway, a tranquil lake and up to the summit, offering breathtaking views of the Cooley Mountains and the sea. Bellurgan Park isn't just a venue, it's a vibrant, living ecosystem, filled with wild plants and hidden ancient gems, ready to inspire your learning and connection to nature.
This conference is focussed towards professional herbalists and students of professional herbalist courses but others are welcome.
2027 Speakers
Frederick Gillam
LCGI Cert. Ed. FLS METF
Founder, The Wild Side of Life & Mycotherapy School
Lecture Subject: To be Confirmed
Fred Gillam LCGI Cert. Ed. FLS METF (also known as ‘Fred The Forager’) has been foraging since childhood in the Wiltshire countryside. With over three decades of practical experience, he is a founder member of the Forager’s Association, a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, a practicing Clinical Herbalist, and the author of Poisonous Plants in Great Britain.
Over twenty years ago, Fred founded The Wild Side of Life to share his passion for wild food, medicinal herbs, fungi, and ecological connection. As an ethnobotanist and researcher into the pharmacological uses of plants and fungi, he works closely with healthcare practitioners and communities to safely unlock the therapeutic potential growing all around us.
A pioneer in clinical mycotherapy, Fred runs a Mycotherapy School for herbalists and co-founded the annual UK & Ireland Medicinal Mushrooms Conference. He also established the UK & Ireland Register of Medicinal Mushroom Practitioners (UKIMPR), a professional body bringing together qualified practitioners to promote the safe, patient-centered, and integrative use of medicinal mushrooms.
Whether teaching survival crafts, presenting on BBC Countryfile and Radio 4, or running his local community herbal dispensary, Fred’s mission is centered on building a sustainable future through nature connection, safe identification, and deep ecological awareness. He looks forward to joining you at HerbFeast 2027!
Brigid Mayes
MA UCD
Medical Herbalist & Historical Researcher
Lecture Subject: To be Confirmed.
Brigid Mayes is a practising Medical Herbalist based in Co. Westmeath and a historical researcher specialising in the rich heritage of Irish botanical medicine. She holds a Master of Arts in the History of Welfare and Medicine from University College Dublin, where her thesis focused on Tadhg Ó Cuinn’s groundbreaking 1415 Materia Medica.
At Herbfeast 2027, Brigid explores how 15th-century Gaelic physicians actively engaged with continental European medical learning—translating core Salernitan and Graeco-Arabic works into Early Modern Irish. She provides an overview of Ó Cuinn’s Materia Medica, detailing its 200+ plant chapters, therapeutic applications, Galenic philosophy, and practical preparation methods. Brigid’s work illuminates a vital strand of Irish medical heritage, connecting contemporary herbal practice to a deep, continuous tradition.
David Winston
RH AHG
Ethnobotanist, Clinical Herbalist & Author
Lecture Subject: To be Confirmed.
David Winston is an internationally renowned ethnobotanist, clinical herbalist, and author with over 45 years of experience studying, practicing, and researching Chinese, Western/Eclectic, and Southeastern Native American herbal traditions. A founding member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) and recipient of the AHG Lifetime Achievement Award, David is recognized globally as one of the pioneers of modern clinical herbalism.
As the founder of the David Winston Center for Herbal Studies, which has trained healthcare practitioners since 1980, and founder of Herbalist & Alchemist, David bridges traditional botanical wisdom with rigorous scientific research. At Herbfeast 2027, he brings decades of clinical insight drawn from his extensive practice, classic literature, and the Herbal Therapeutics Research Library, equipping practitioners and enthusiasts alike with deep, actionable botanical knowledge.
Sarah Hawkins
DipCNM Dip.HerbMed mBANT rCNHC
Lecture Subject: To be confirmed.
Sarah Hawkins is a Registered Nutritional Therapist, Clinical Herbalist. Passionate about empowering individuals through the combined power of clinical nutrition and herbal medicine, Sarah cuts through the noise of wellness trends with an evidence-based, factual approach delivered in a clear, accessible, and practical way.
Grounded in the belief that knowledge is power, Sarah tailors bespoke client care that blends modern scientific research with clinical practice and Celtic herbal traditions. Whether guiding clients through functional testing, crafting individualised therapeutic protocols, or leading immersive foraging walks, her goal is to equip people with the tools for sustainable, long-term health.
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HerbFeast Ireland
HerbFeast is an annual non-for-profit herbal festival, run for Herbalists by volunteer Herbalists from the Community of Irish Herbalists (CIH).
It is the largest annual Herbalist festival in Ireland featuring local and world renowned herbalists and speakers sharing knowledge from their passion and experiences.
Over the weekend, herbalists nationwide, and beyond, gather, network and share their experience in connection with nature and the many modalities and specialities nested within the community. It is an opportunity to connect with other people sharing the same vision.
The festival is packed with talks and activities such as seminars, workshops, herb walks and much more. The location changes almost every year to reach all counties of Ireland, North and South, West and East. Either way, all herbalists are welcome!
HerbFeast is ran by the Community of Irish Herbalists (CIH).
Location:
Herbfeast 2026 will be held in Bellurgan Park in County Louth.