The county’s best food products and food producers have received top honours at the annual Blas na h-Éireann Irish Food Awards which recognise passionate producers who create high-quality food and drinks and who are serious about promoting their fantastic products to markets at home and around the globe.
The hugely-acclaimed awards, which were held this weekend in Dingle. Co. Kerry, saw several local producers and their delicious products selected by a panel of 400 judges and chosen from the largest ever entry in the competition. More than 2,000 products from across the country were entered at what is the largest annual gathering of Irish food producers.
Artie Clifford, Chairman of the Blas na hÉireann Awards, Anna Byrne, Local Enterprise Office Carlow and Jim Healy, Choclate Garden of Ireland
The top local winners at the Irish Food Awards 2015 were:
- Best in County (Sponsored by Carlow Local Enterprise Office): Sunshine Juice
- Best in Farmers’ Market (Sponsored by Carlow Local Enterprise Office): Chocolate Garden of Ireland
The other local award winners were:
Producer | Award | Product | Category |
Seerys Heatherfield Ltd | Silver | Tesco Finest Christmas Pudding 6 months matured | Christmas Puddings |
Seerys Heatherfield Ltd | Gold | SIMPLY BETTER 12 MONTH MATURED LUXURY IRISH CHRISTMAS PUDDING | Christmas Puddings |
Seerys Heatherfield Ltd | Bronze | SIMPLY BETTER IRISH MADE ZESTY CHRISTMAS PUDDING | Christmas Puddings |
Sunshine Juice | Bronze | S/S Orange Juice smooth (Entered on behalf of the producer by Aldi) | Non-Alcoholic Drinks |
Kieran Comerford of the Carlow Local Enterprise Office, which sponsored the Best in County and Best in Farmers’ Market Awards, said: ‘The LEO was delighted to work with Blas this year and to sponsor some of the key county awards. The county is teeming with passionate producers and wonderful produce which the Awards help to showcase and promote. All of the county’s producers have done us proud this weekend,’ said Kieran.
Chairman of the Blas na h-Éireann Awards, Artie Clifford said the bar was raised again this year, both in terms of the number of entries but also in the increased diversity and range of the food and drink products being entered.
“Blas is now in its eighth year and the quality and diversity of Irish food and drink products have wowed the judges once more. We saw a rise in the entries in several categories like beers, coffee, charcuterie and dietary-specific products and once again the judges faced a challenge in selecting the very best. For the winners, the awards are known to help open doors to new markets at home and abroad and I wish them well as they go forward with these awards to their name,” said Artie.
Further information on the Irish Food Awards is available on their website: www.irishfoodawards.com
