Laois businesses sweep up at Irish food awards

Laois businesses had a very successful night at Blas na hÉireann 2024, the Irish food awards, which took place this year in Dingle. 

There were six local winners at the awards which ran from Thursday October 3 to Saturday  October 5 celebrating the very best of Irish food and drink. 

The winners from Laois were Kepak Kingate, The Village Dairy, Mueller & O'Connell Bakery, Zephyr Yard, Aghaboe Farm Ltd and Abbey Farm Foods with Mueller & O'Connell Bakery awarded Best in County. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

"We are incredibly proud of our local food producers who have made it to the shortlist for the Blas na hÉireann awards." said Mark Clancy, Laois LEO.

 "Their dedication to creating high-quality, locally-sourced products has always been a cornerstone of Laois’s identity, and this recognition highlights their hard work and talent. We wish them all the best in the upcoming finals and celebrate their continued success."

Speaking as the winners were announced, Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford said, “We are once again delighted to celebrate such deserving winners at Blas na hÉireann 2024. After 17 years of these awards, it’s inspiring to witness the continued innovation and quality in our food and drink industry here on the island of Ireland. Every year, the standard is raised even higher, and it’s an honor for myself and the entire Blas team to showcase these exceptional products and the dedicated producers behind them to a wider audience.” CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

Blas na hÉireann 2024 saw the return of the Blas Village where this year’s finalists got the opportunity to showcase their products, engage with customers and meet key industry buyers. The festival focused market ‘Eat Ireland in a Day’ was back for a third year and included a brand new Meet the Maker stage.

The Backyard at Blas, in partnership with Bank of Ireland delivered an impressive lineup of key industry speakers once again, both in person to the attendees and live streamed. Lucy Ryan, Head of Food and Beverage Sector, Bank of Ireland said: “The growth of Blas na hÉireann each year is testament to the strength of the indigenous food and drink industry, with the ever-expanding number of producers continuing to innovate, and impress the judges with the range of their ambition. Bank of Ireland is delighted to continue supporting Blas na hÉireann, and congratulates all the award winners for the sustained excellence of their entries.”  CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

Now in its 17th year, Blas na hÉireann saw another strong year across all categories along with many new producers entering the awards for the first time this year. During the judging, which took place throughout June and July, over 3,000 entries were judged. Products from every county in Ireland were entered to win bronze, silver or gold awards in over 170 food and drink categories as well as key awards. As the competition intensifies each year, earning the prestigious Blas accreditation is a significant accomplishment, signifying that the shortlisted finalists and eventual winners represent the pinnacle of excellence in Irish food and drink.