The best of Irish food has been celebrated in the Irish Food Writers' Guild Food Awards, with the country's finest bread, cheese, lamb and more revealed.
Dublin's Bread 41bakery, Mayo's Calvey's Achill Mountain Lamb and Galway's Coolfin cheese were among those honoured with Food Awards this year.
Bread41 was started by Eoin Cluskey who completed the Ballymaloe 12-week cookery course, and then founded Bread 41 in 2018. With a focus on zero waste and carbon neutrality in his business, the bakery has become known as one of the most innovative spots in the city.
Started by The Calveys, who had been sheep farmers on Achill Island for a century and a half, Calvey's Achill Mountain Lamb focused on sustainable farming and butchering.
Coolfin cheese, an Alpine-style hard cheese made in the foothills of the Slieve Aughty mountains in East Galway by Teresa Roche, is well-known by foodies and chefs alike, and has a low carbon footprint.
Other producers celebrated include All About Kombucha from Galway, community group Our Table and Meath's Rock Farm in Slane.
Running since 1993, the Irish Food Writers' Guild Food Awards celebrates the artisan producers who keep the nation fuelled and inspired through their products. After two years of Covid, there was even more focus put on the brands and foodies who nourished and connected people across the country.
This year the judges also focused on tradition, highlighting how some of the best food producers in the country put their own twist on traditional Irish dishes and foods.
Read the full list of winners below:
- Food Award: Bread 41, Dublin
- Food Award: Calvey's Achill Mountain Lamb, Mayo
- Food Award: Coolfin cheese, Galway
- Irish Drink Award: All About Kombucha, Galway
- Notable contribution to Irish Food Award: Stefan Griesbach of Gannet Fishmongers, Galway
- Environmental Award: Rock Farm Slane, Meath
- Community Food Award: Our Table, Dublin
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Sally Ferns Barnes, Cork
Speaking about the awards, Caroline Hennessy – Chair of the Irish Food Writers' Guild – said: "The pandemic changed the very nature of consumer behaviour and in turn, forced Ireland's food producers to change the way in which they operated.
"Twenty-four months since we first heard the term COVID-19 we are today celebrating the artisan producers and food businesses that stepped up to the plate, continued to serve communities and dug deep during the pandemic, despite all obstacles. We are recognising those who kept moving, got creative, started new ventures and found new ways of reaching their customers."
