Laois winners announced in Blas na hÉireann food and drink awards

Laois food and drink makers have won an incredible 13 awards in the Irish Blas na hÉireann 2023 final.

The county's finalists included The Village Dairy, Mueller & O'Connell, Aghaboe Farm Foods, Abbey Farm Foods, Ion Oil, Ballykilcavan Brewing Company and Temptation Chocolates, all members of Laois Taste, as well as Cocoa Couture from Mountmellick.

The Village Dairy in Clonmore, a father / daughter team of Noel and Shelley Barcoe, won an incredible 5 medals including 3 Golds - one Gold for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Single Source Jersey Cream and 2 Golds in the Milk category for their Village Dairy Jersey Milk and Simply Better Jersey Milk. 

They won a joint Gold medal and also a Bronze Medal for their Village Dairy Organic Milk in this same Dairy - Milk category.  Their fifth medal was a Bronze medal for their Village Dairy Fresh Cream.  

Noel and Shelley Barcoe, The Village Dairy, receiving their 5 medals.

Ballykilcavan Brewing Company won the Best in Laois Award along with a Gold Medal for their Blackwell Stout in the Beers, Porters & Stouts category.  

Mueller & O'Connell bakery in Abbeyleix won a Silver for their Lemon Meringue Cruffin and Niamh Maher from Aghaboe Farm Foods won for her fabulous creation of a Trio of Christmas Cakes. 

The Gee Family, led by the famous Helen (below), was up for more awards again this year for their preserves and conserves under the Abbey Farm brand.

Helen and Roy Gee with Brian Brennan, chairman of Laois Taste.

Abbey Farm Foods won a Silver and Bronze too, for their Grainne's Raspberry Conserve and Lidl Deluxe Mixed Fruit Preserve 350g. 

Ion Oils from Portarlington won a Silver and a Bronze, for their Hazelnut Oil and Sunflower Oil.

Cocoa Couture owner Catherine Callaghan won a Silver medal for her delicious handmade chocolates.

The Blas na hEireann awards take place in Dingle every year as part of the Dingle Food Festival.   Blas na hEireann is a great event for finalists to network among fellow food and drink producers in Ireland, both Republic and Northern Ireland, where Buyers from the main retailers and specialist stores come to meet the producers and to taste their products. 

The event also attracts food writers, chefs and keynote speakers from various parts of the food and drinks industry.  

Liz Kennedy is from Laois Taste.

"It was a super event for Laois Taste producers to be part of.  Laois food and drink is a really great place and the results of the Awards highlight the quality of the food and drink products produced in Laois.  The products are available in many supermarkets, retailers, specialist shops and direct from the producers online.  Hampers are also available for purchasing at any time of the year," she said.

Laois Taste was also well represented by all its producers in the Eat Ireland in a Day Pavillion which hosted food and drink producers from around the country over the 3 days, organised in the Provinces of Ireland.

Markus and Andreas Milley from Ion Oil worked tirelessly over the 3 days showcasing Laois Taste products and doing tastings for their product, meeting consumers, Buyers, Chefs and Food Writers showcasing their many cold pressed oils.

Laois Taste's presence in the Pavillion was sponsored by Laois Local Enterprise Office and Laois Partnership.  

Laois the new West Cork for small food and drink producers

Mark Clancy is from the Laois Local Enterprise Office.

"It is so important to support these local food and drink enterprises, many of whom have come through LEO's Enterprise development programmes and different training on offer.  The Start Your Own Business course is particularly useful for people wishing to develop a business idea and are unsure as to how to develop the idea into a business plan and ultimately into a business. The course includes a number of training sessions and invaluable in person mentoring sessions to further tailor content to individual needs," he said. 

Mark and the team at LEO in Laois can be contacted on localenterprise@laoiscoco. ie or by phone on 057 866 1800

For more details on Laois Taste producers, products, hampers and suppliers can be found on laoistaste.ie and on their Laoistaste.ie social media platforms of Instagram and Facebook.