Many regions have their own special coffee competition.

Localised coffee festivals appear all over the place and are developing into an annual event, such as the London Coffee Festival.

In addition, there are also truly international competitions to complement them, such as the World Barista Championships which have just been held in Australia this year.

One such local festival to have hit the headlines recently is the Foynes Irish Coffee Festival, as reported in the Limerick Leader.

Many of us love our Irish coffees, but did you realise that the drink has been around for some seventy years?

The origin of the drink is in the village of Foynes in West Limerick and this is celebrated by the Foynes Irish Coffee Festival, spanning three days.

What happens during these celebrations?

There is live music and entertainment (plus, of course, a good helping of Irish coffee).

Events were free, which made the festival popular with families and all were welcome   for instance, there was a parade, fancy dress event, charity run plus stalls, fireworks and street entertainment.

The Master of Ceremonies was the comedian, Alan Short.

In particular, there was a Powers Irish Coffee Making championship at the event and the prize was five hundred euros plus two return tickets to New York.