The 2024 Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards brought together a stunning range of Ireland’s best food and drink producers. These awards really spotlighted the outstanding quality and creativity happening in the country right now.
Local Enterprise Offices got behind the Best Artisan category this year, which says a lot about the support for small-batch producers. It’s not just about the big brands—there’s real pride in the little guys, too.
The 2024 Supreme Champion sits at the very top of the Blas na hÉireann awards. This is the big one, the single best product out of everything entered.
Judges tasted hundreds of entries without knowing who made them. They focused on taste, quality, and that hard-to-pin-down “wow” factor.
Competition was fierce, with everything from dairy and meat to drinks and sweets in the running. The Supreme Champion had to stand out in a crowd of seriously good contenders.
This year’s winner blew the judges away with craftsmanship and a memorable flavor. It’s another sign that Ireland’s food scene is reaching new heights.
Winning this award usually gives producers a huge boost—more customers, more buzz, and sometimes even international attention.
The Best Artisan Producer award shines a light on the small makers who pour their heart into their craft. Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland got behind this one in 2024, recognizing how important artisan producers are to Irish food culture.
Judges looked for hand-crafted products with character and a story. They wanted to see traditional methods, top-notch ingredients, and flavors that stand out from the crowd.
Family businesses and small operations from all over Ireland entered. Many of these artisans rely on local ingredients and old-school techniques.
Winners in this category often build their reputation at farmers’ markets or specialty shops. Recognition here can help them punch above their weight against the bigger companies.
Past Blas na hÉireann winners include names like Killadoon Milk, Kish Fish, and Valencia Island Vermouth. These brands show just how broad and exciting the Irish food scene has become over the last 17 years.
Cork producers have made a strong showing, with 36 winners from the county in recent years. Clare’s no slouch either, turning out several award-winners.
Artie Clifford, the awards chairman, often points out how Irish food just keeps getting better. Some previous winners have even gone on to make waves nationally and internationally.
Blas na hÉireann celebrates Irish food producers who go above and beyond, using traditional methods and local ingredients to create something special. You’ll find everything from tiny family-run businesses to regional companies with a loyal following for quality Irish produce.
Rivesci really made waves this year. Based in Tipperary, this condiment maker snagged the Supreme Champion gold at the 2024 awards.
They’re proof that innovation is alive and well in Ireland’s artisan food scene. It’s kind of inspiring to see a small producer take on the big guys and win.
A lot of winners focus on handmade nougat and other treats, sticking to recipes that have been in the family for ages.
Killadoon Milk stands out for their fresh dairy. They show how great ingredients at the source make all the difference.
Kish Fish brings Ireland’s coastal food heritage to the table. Their seafood really connects you to the Irish coastline.
These producers have a few things in common: they care about quality, and they stay close to their local communities.
Cork turned out 36 winners in 2024 alone. That’s a big statement about the strength of regional food in Ireland.
Every county brings something different, shaped by local traditions and ingredients. Valencia Island Vermouth is a great example of a product that could only come from its unique spot.
Most regional success stories start with family businesses. They stick to authentic recipes and keep their standards high.
Local Enterprise Offices now back artisan producers in the Best Artisan category. This support makes a huge difference for small businesses trying to break into bigger markets.
Some of these regional winners launched during tough economic times. Their grit and focus on quality helped them build a loyal following.
It’s clear that Ireland’s food excellence isn’t just a Dublin thing. Rural areas keep turning out incredible artisan foods that get national attention.
Blas na hÉireann covers 170 different categories, celebrating everything from classic dairy to new-wave artisan creations. They use a medal system—gold, silver, bronze—plus big titles like Supreme Champion.
The awards break things down into clear categories that reflect Ireland’s food scene. You’ll see traditional dairy up against modern craft beverages and all kinds of artisan specialties.
Core food categories include dairy (butter, cheese, yoghurt), meat, seafood, and bakery. They even split things up further, like having a separate spot for flavored butter.
Beverage categories cover everything from craft beer and whiskey to unusual picks like Valencia Island Vermouth. This setup lets specialists compete with similar products—no one gets lost in a huge category.
The system gives both old hands and newcomers a fair shot. First-timers sometimes walk away with medals, since quality matters more than how famous you are.
Regional entries are strong across the board. Cork’s 36 winners in recent years show how the category system finds talent everywhere.
The Chef’s Larder Award is one of the biggest honors at Blas na hÉireann. It’s aimed at products that professional chefs actually want to use.
Judges look for versatility, quality, and how well the product works in a busy kitchen. They think about what chefs really need.
Winning products often become must-haves in top Irish restaurants. This award helps connect artisan producers with chefs who can really champion their work.
It’s especially valuable for small producers making specialty ingredients. Getting a nod here can turn a tiny operation into a go-to supplier for restaurants.
The medal system keeps things clear. Gold medals go to products that hit the highest marks for taste and quality.
Silver medals reward products that are excellent but just shy of gold. Bronze medals recognize good quality that meets the competition’s high standards.
This way, more than one producer can get a medal in each category. It’s not just about being the single best—there’s room to celebrate all kinds of achievements.
Blind tasting makes sure medals are about the product, not the brand. Judges don’t know who made what, so small producers get a fair shake.
Winning a medal can mean a real jump in sales and reputation. Retailers like Avoca love to highlight medal-winners for customers hunting for top Irish food and drink.
Blas na hÉireann winners put Ireland’s best flavors front and center. From classic dairy to creative sweets, these products show off the range and quality of Irish food.
Killadoon Milk stands out among the winners, representing the best of Irish dairy. Their milk proves that traditional farming still creates the richest flavors.
Irish artisan producers keep winning awards by sticking to local ingredients and tried-and-true methods. The blind tasting format means only the best flavors get through.
Winners often use seasonal Irish ingredients that capture the country’s unique character. Wild Atlantic seaweeds, grass-fed dairy, and heritage grains all pop up in the list of top products.
Judges love producers who care about sustainable farming as much as taste. A lot of these winning products come from family businesses perfecting their craft over generations.
Handmade nougat is one of those creative confections that keeps judges guessing. Producers use Irish honey, nuts, and fruits for flavors you won’t find anywhere else.
Some products—like Rivesci Smoked Chilli Oil and Valentia Island Vermouth—came out of the pandemic and show how Irish producers can adapt and keep things interesting. They stay creative without losing the quality that matters.
You’ll see traditional Irish ingredients in brand-new ways. Seaweed chocolates, whiskey-aged cheeses, and bog berry preserves are just a few of the innovations among the winners.
The competition rewards producers who take risks but still deliver on taste. Some of the most memorable products feature unexpected combinations that really celebrate Irish ingredients.
Blas na hÉireann runs Ireland’s biggest blind tasting competition, using judging criteria developed with University College Cork’s Food Science Department. This system has become a benchmark for judging Irish food quality.
Judges score products in over 170 categories, with no idea who made what. That keeps things fair and focused on the food itself.
Key areas include:
Products can earn bronze, silver, or gold based on their scores. Judges use special sheets for each category, so standards stay consistent.
The focus is all on sensory qualities—no points for packaging or clever marketing.
Blind tasting happens every June and July. More than 3,000 products usually enter from all over Ireland.
Trained panels taste and score everything under strict conditions. Each product gets checked more than once to make sure the results are fair.
The Food Science Department at UCC oversees the technical side of judging. Their involvement keeps things scientific and credible.
Products go through early rounds before reaching the finals. Only the top scorers become finalists and get notified in August.
Winners represent the very best Irish food and drink you’ll find anywhere.
Blas na hÉireann winners really show what’s possible with local Irish ingredients and sustainable practices. These producers prove that quality Irish food starts with care—right from the farm to your table.
Award-winning producers all over Ireland really focus on using ingredients from their own counties or nearby regions. This keeps things fresh and, honestly, helps local farmers who’ve been at this for generations.
A lot of Blas na hÉireann champions buy straight from farms within a 50-kilometre radius. This close distance means producers can actually visit the farms, shake hands, and keep an eye on the quality and what’s in season.
Killadoon Milk is a great example of local sourcing done right. The dairy works only with farms in County Kildare, sticking to strict quality standards thanks to strong personal ties with each farming family.
Seasonal sourcing really shapes a lot of winning products. Spring brings fresh veg, summer means berries, autumn has root crops, and winter’s all about preserves. It’s more about following Ireland’s natural growing cycles than forcing things to grow year-round.
You can see regional specialisation among the winners. Coastal producers, like Kish Fish, shine with seafood, while inland counties go big on dairy, beef, and grain—whatever suits their land best.
Producers keep things simple by working directly with farms, cutting out extra steps that can mess with the quality of Irish produce. They build these connections through contracts, regular visits, and shared goals.
Temperature control kicks in right at harvest and sticks around at every stage. Winning producers use cold chain management to lock in nutrition and flavour from field to finished product.
Processing often happens just hours after harvest. That quick turnaround locks in peak flavour and nutrition, setting these products apart from the usual supermarket fare.
Valencia Island Vermouth nails this by processing botanicals within 24 hours of picking. The unique island climate adds a twist, and short transport times keep everything super fresh.
Traceability systems let shoppers see exactly which farm and harvest date their food came from. Many winners share detailed provenance info, connecting people directly to the land and farmers behind their meals.
Quality checks happen at several points, from the farm all the way to final packaging. This keeps standards high enough to meet Blas na hÉireann’s tough judging.
Every October, the little town of Dingle in Co. Kerry turns into Ireland’s food capital. The whole place comes alive with ceremonies and networking events to celebrate the country’s best producers.
These celebrations last several days and mix formal awards with smaller industry gatherings. It’s a big deal for the food scene.
The Blas na hÉireann events run for five days in Dingle each October. The 18th annual festival will be from 2nd to 6th October 2025, with the main awards and a bunch of related activities.
At the heart of it all is the Blas Village. This venue hosts the formal award presentations, and winners pick up their glass trophies—gold, silver, or bronze.
The ceremony celebrates winners in 170 categories from over 3,000 entries. Every year, you’ll see old pros competing with new faces, which keeps things lively and innovative for Irish food excellence.
Masterclasses pop up all week, giving folks a chance to learn from the best. Industry panels dig into the challenges and opportunities facing Irish food businesses right now.
The festival vibe spills out into Dingle’s restaurants and pubs. The whole town becomes a food lover’s playground.
Dingle’s events spark real connections in Ireland’s food world. Producers come from all over to meet suppliers, distributors, and other artisans in a relaxed setting.
Bank of Ireland backs the festival, offering networking for food entrepreneurs. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) support the Best Artisan category and help regional producers connect.
Evenings bring receptions where seasoned producers and newcomers can chat. These moments often kick off collaborations and partnerships that last well beyond the festival.
For small producers, meeting others face-to-face is rare but valuable. Many say these connections have changed their businesses for the better.
Dingle’s small size means you’re always bumping into someone—networking just happens naturally all over town.
Blas na hÉireann winners really boost sales for Irish food producers and influence what shoppers buy across the country. These awards give brands an edge that lasts way beyond the festival weekend.
Winning a Blas na hÉireann award can make a huge difference for Irish food producers. Many see a real jump in sales right after their win.
This recognition lets small artisan producers go head-to-head with big brands on store shelves. Gold medal winners often land new distribution deals with major Irish retailers just months after the awards.
Export opportunities open up for these products. International buyers use Blas recognition as a sign of quality when picking Irish imports.
The awards attract tons of media coverage—TV, radio, newspapers, you name it. That spotlight is marketing gold, especially for small producers who can’t usually afford it.
Restaurant buyers look for Blas winners when sourcing ingredients. Chefs trust that these products passed tough blind tastings by industry experts.
Irish shoppers are starting to use Blas awards as a shopping guide. Those award labels help people spot top Irish food and drink in crowded aisles.
Foodies even plan shopping trips to hunt for new Blas winners. Some folks buy bronze, silver, and gold medal products as gifts or for special occasions.
The awards shape what’s on restaurant menus, too. Places highlight Blas-winning ingredients to draw in customers who care about quality.
Social media spreads the word, especially among younger shoppers. Winners get a big boost from food bloggers and influencers showing off their products online.
Tourists want authentic Irish food, and they often ask for Blas-winning products as a taste of real culinary excellence.
These standout producers show off the best of Irish artisan craftsmanship. Each brings their own skills and passion for quality ingredients and traditional methods.
Miena’s Nougat has become Ireland’s top handmade nougat maker. They use classic French-style techniques passed down through the years.
Their lineup includes the usual honey and almond nougats, but they also create new flavours with Irish twists. Every batch is made by hand, so you get that perfect texture and taste.
They slowly cook honey and sugar, then fold in fresh egg whites to get that signature chewy texture.
Key achievements include:
Valentia Island Vermouth took home the Best Artisan Producer award at Blas na hÉireann 2024. This win highlights their dedication to crafting premium vermouth with botanicals grown right on their Kerry island.
They pick ingredients from Valentia Island’s unique microclimate. Wild herbs and botanicals are hand-selected and processed to create distinctive flavour profiles.
Their methods mix old-school vermouth-making with modern quality checks. Every bottle takes months of careful blending and maturing.
You’ll find both sweet and dry vermouths in their range. Local plants like sea fennel and wild thyme give each bottle a flavour that really captures the island’s character.
County Kerry and Dublin have really stood out in recent Blas na hÉireann competitions. Kerry grabbed eleven wins in 2020, even with tough circumstances. Dublin’s food scene keeps getting noticed for its mix of innovative and traditional producers.
Kerry’s big showing at Blas na hÉireann 2020 proved the county’s strength in artisan food production. Eleven different winners came from Kerry that year, making it one of the top regions.
These Kerry producers highlighted the county’s variety. Their wins came during a tough time, when the usual Dingle gathering had to go virtual.
Winners came from all over the food map—dairy, new artisan creations, you name it. Kerry’s producers showed they can compete at the highest level.
Their wins shine a light on the county’s deep roots in quality food. Kerry’s success really shows the value of tradition mixed with new ideas.
Dublin’s producers have done well at Blas na hÉireann for years. The capital’s diverse food scene helps it score in lots of categories.
Dublin companies take advantage of the city’s easy access to markets and distribution. This reach lets them serve customers all over Ireland while keeping up the quality Blas na hÉireann demands.
You’ll find both old-school and new-wave producers in Dublin. Some have decades of experience, others are fresh startups—but all represent how Irish food is evolving.
Dublin’s wins show the city’s place as a hub for Irish food innovation. Local producers keep getting recognised for products that celebrate Irish flavours and meet modern tastes.
Shoppers can spot Blas na hÉireann winners by looking for special labels and displays that call out these top Irish food and drink products.
Award winners put official Blas na hÉireann logos right on their packaging. These labels come in gold, silver, or bronze, showing the year and the award.
You’ll usually see the logo front and centre. It lists the award category and the year. Producers often place it close to their brand name.
Look for the official Blas na hÉireann branding with Irish text. The design uses traditional Irish language touches. Real winners use crisp, professional logos—not just generic stickers.
Some brands launch special edition packaging for their award-winning products. These versions often have extra labels to celebrate their Blas na hÉireann win.
Independent food shops and delis carry the most Blas na hÉireann winners. These retailers love local quality and often show off awards info in-store.
Big supermarkets like SuperValu and Dunnes Stores have Irish produce sections. They highlight award winners with special displays or signs.
Farmers’ markets connect you directly with artisan producers who’ve won at Blas na hÉireann. Lots of winners sell straight to customers at weekend markets.
Online shops that focus on Irish food make it easy to find award winners. You can often filter by award status and see all the Blas na hÉireann champions in one place.
Every year, the Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards spark loads of questions from producers and food fans. People want to know about entering, the judging, categories, and how these awards affect Ireland’s artisan food scene.
These awards cover a wide range of Ireland’s food and drink scene. You’ll find traditional categories like dairy, meat and poultry, baked goods, and beverages.
They also have specialty sections for things like artisan chocolates, preserves, and condiments. There’s even a Best Artisan category, which Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland support.
Some awards focus on start-up food businesses, while others highlight established producers. The Producers’ Champion award shines a light on people who really support and champion Ireland’s food community.
If you’re a producer, you can enter through the official Blas na hÉireann website during the entry window. All products need to be made in Ireland and should use quality ingredients.
There’s an entry fee for each product you submit in different categories. You’ll need to stick to the specific terms and conditions set out in the rules.
If you have questions, the awards team is available by email and pretty helpful. They’ll guide you on picking the right category and making sure your submission ticks all the boxes.
Blas na hÉireann runs Ireland’s biggest blind tasting event. Judges don’t see brand names or know who produced what.
Taste matters most. Judges look for flavour balance, texture, and what the eating experience is actually like.
They compare each product to others in its category. The team keeps the judging process fair and sticks to strict standards.
The 18th annual Blas na hÉireann runs from 2nd to 6th October 2025. You’ll find it happening in Dingle, County Kerry.
There’ll be networking events and masterclasses. Industry panel chats and product showcases fill out the five-day schedule.
The awards ceremony is the main event. Winners get announced after the judging wraps up.
The 2024 awards celebrated standout Irish food and drink from all categories. Temptation Pâtisserie took home the best start-up award for their artisan confections.
Their winning chocolate bar had white and blue cocoa butter swirls, looking a bit like ocean waves—pretty artsy, honestly.
The full winners list really shows off the range of Irish artisan food. You’ll spot everything from classic favourites to some creative new ideas.
These awards shine a light on passionate producers who pour their hearts into creating standout Irish food and drink. When small artisan businesses get recognized, they suddenly have a better shot at being noticed in the market.
Winning brings a nice boost in consumer awareness. It also opens up new retail opportunities that might’ve felt out of reach before.
Over the past 16 years, the competition has nudged Irish food quality to new heights. You can see the impact in every corner of the industry.
In 2025, three Producers’ Champions stood out: Caroline Hennessy, Santina Kennedy, and Anthony O’Toole. These folks keep championing Ireland’s food makers and never miss a chance to spotlight what artisan producers bring to the table.
Ciaran Connolly Best Brewery Taprooms in Ireland Ireland’s taproom scene brings together legendary breweries and bold craft beer destinations. You’ll find everything from Dublin’s Guinness experiences to regional spots like Kinnegar Brewing and Eight Degrees Brewing. The […]
Ciaran Connolly Oktoberfest Dublin Overview Dublin takes the famous Bavarian festival and gives it a proper Irish spin. You get authentic German traditions mixed with plenty of local Irish hospitality. Every autumn, the city lights up with […]