We are delighted to share our 2024 Finalist Guide with you which includes each of our finalists for this year.
The social side of things…
We are thrilled that when so many people travel from all across the island to be here as part of Blas.
The atmosphere from this community of people passionate about Irish food & drinks is something special. A likeminded group of people all here to celebrate the very best of the bet of Irish.
As such we love when we hear about some social things for people to get together for over the few days of Blas and we will be sharing the details here of some of the events….
Thursday 3rd – The All Island Foodie Quiz!
Hosted by Conal Stewart of Ards & North Down and with all proceeds going to our local Dingle charity West Kerry Care of the Aged. Kicking off at 9pm sharp in McCarthy’s bar the quiz is open to all to attend.
The quiz will be choc full of foodie rounds and very special prizes to be won too!
€20 per team of 4 – spaces are limited and cannot be pre-booked – best way to get your space is to be there early!
If you are a Blas 2024 finalist how about representing your county in the quiz!
Friday 4th
Sing Along Social Dick Mack’s Yard @ 9pm Friday 4th October
Aoife McElwain’s feel good, fun filled, zero commitment choir which rocked the town and made national headlines on her last visit is back! Cheesy tunes, dancing and sheer craic are guaranteed.
The Sing Along is being hosted by Blas na hÉireann & Dick Mack’s to celebrate the amazing food producers from all over Ireland who have made it to the finals of this year’s awards.
All festival attendees are invited to come along and join in the fun
See a sample from 2023
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxyuMvutcyO/?igsh=MWVid3dqMWFoamlpYQ%3D%3D
Saturday 5th
In 2023 we saw our very first Blas swim! a group of our finalists and guests gathered on Ventry bech and blew away the cobwebs with an early morning dip in the Atlantic. This year the swim, which is led by Annie Dunne (The Art of Grate Food) will be taking place at 7.30am, meeting at Ventry Car Park
Hint: For anyone hoping to warm up afterwards Siopa Uí Lúing is just the spot to grab a cuppa
Blas na hÉireann – Key Dates & Times
Blas 2024 is fast approaching and we are planning lots of social events, speakers panels and of course our finalist showcase as we gather the finalist food and drink producers alongside the industry to celebrate the very best of Irish.
Below are the key dates and times for industry attendees. If you are a finalist for Blas 2024 please read the more detailed schedule for finalists here
Blas na hÉireann Showcase
From the 3rd October we will be opening a showcase of the best of the best of Irish food & drinks. Essentially the very best of Irish under one roof.
2024 has been a record year for entries with over 3000 submissions and we are excited to highlight the many new producers and new products which have made it to the finalist stage.
3rd October
Private preview of showcase for buyers only – register your interest here
Products will be displayed and buyers will be allowed to browse in their own space. The format will allow you to browse the showcase and the Blas team will be on site to help with any questions. This evening we invite you to come along to a very special showcase of our 2024 finalists in the Blas Village. This open preview runs from 5pm with drinks and nibbles from 6pm in the Blas Village.
This event is by invite only, if you are interested in attending you must register your interest in advance
Watch highlights from 2023 Buyers Showcase
Friday 4th October
Along with the awards announcements there are a number of Blas na hÉireann events taking place today. Showcase open to producers, buyers, press as a networking venue throughout the day with 400+ finalist producers and awards are presented. We will be announcing winners in person and on line throughout the day.
Our Backyard at Blas, supported by Bank of Ireland, will also be running through this day and you can see our line up of conversations here
As a reminder…
The Backyard at Blas is a dedicated space to meet your colleagues in the food industry, gain knowledge and find support. This space is exclusively for our finalists, judges, buyers, trade and press. An exciting line-up of speakers will share their experiences throughout the weekend and it’s a great place to meet and catch up with people Find out more
Saturday 5th October
The Showcase Marquee will be open again this morning, we will be displaying all of the finalists who have reached this stage in a shop-floor style event, it is a great place to meet the people who are making the food
The Dingle Food Festival will be taking place right throughout the weekend, with the taste trail happening Saturday & Sunday from 1pm – 5pm, market stalls lining the streets and cookery demos, workshops and lots if interesting events. The full schedule is to be announced but you can find details on www.dinglefood.com
Would you like to join us in Dingle?
If you are interested in coming along as a buyer please register your interest here
Please note this is a registration of interest only, it does not confirm attendance at the event. Please let us know if you would like to come along and we will be in touch with more details
Watch highlights from the awards and networking event…
Blas Backyard – Online
Over the past 7 years we have been proud to bring The Backyard at Blas to life. As a venue it is a space full of positive conversation, learning and support for finalist producers.
In 2020 and 2021 when we could not be together in person we moved The Backyard at Blas online. It remained a dedicated space to meet fellow producers, a place to gain knowledge and find support for your business.
We now have both an in person Backyard event, kindly supported by Bank of Ireland and an online programme supported by Taste4Success.
We have seen how much our finalists producers benefitted from a little advance preparation through our online sessions and we want to continue in that theme of preparation for success with another great online line up in 2024
These workshops will take place online from the 9th – 13th of September and are exclusively for finalist producers at Blas na hÉireann 2024. We encourage you to sign up to this year’s events online, ahead of attending the events in Dingle.
The focus of the workshops will be on what you, as a finalist, can do to make the most of this opportunity. It will be a wonderful chance to not only hear from the experts but to make first contact with fellow finalists as well.
Note:
Each session will be delivered online via Zoom. Once registered you can attend live on the day or if you can’t make it on the day we will share a recording with you. Online learning has been supported by Taste4Success Skillnet.
The line up for this year….
Monday 9th
9.30am – What is PR and how does it work to grow your business with Vivienne Gleeson
11am – Doing well & keeping well with Brian McDermott
3pm – Trends & Innovation Insights with Annie Dunne
Tuesday 10th
9.30am – Perfecting your pitch with Annie Dunne
11am – Business Development with Brian McDermott
12.30pm – There’s no need for “Big Spend PR” with Vivienne Gleeson
Wednesday 11th
9.30am – The 2024 Social Media Blast with Sharon Noonan
9.30am – The 2024 Social Media Blast with Sharon Noonan
Thursday 12th
11am – Managing downward cost pressure with Malachy O’Connor
11am – Managing downward cost pressure with Malachy O’Connor
Friday 13th
9.30am – Power up your online & in person networking skills with Sharon Noonan
11am – Introduction to insight driven category selling with Malachy O’Connor
11am – Introduction to insight driven category selling with Malachy O’Connor
Delivering to Dingle for Blas na hÉireann Finalist Showcase 2024
For those of you who are through to the finalist stages of Blas na hÉireann, you can deliver either in person, with courier or with An Post, etc. Once it gets to us safe and sound on the dates/time requested!
Products should be delivered as they are presented in their packaging to the customer. Samples will be displayed in their shop ready state. Products do not need to be delivered by the producer. Courier deliveries can be accepted. Dates for delivery as follows….
- Chilled & short shelf life samples Deliver to The Blas Village, Green St, Dingle, Co. Kerry V92RR76 Deliveries accepted on Wednesday 2nd October only 9am – 4pm
Please note that Soul Food are offering a chilled courier service from Dublin in a shared delivery. If you are interested please email bill@soulfood.ie for more details - Ambient & long shelf life samples Deliver to Blas na hÉireann, Dykegate Lane, Dingle, Co. Kerry, V92 H365. Deliveries accepted Mon 23rd – Friday 27th September 9am – 5pm.
Please be sure to send any ambient / longer shelf life samples in this week to our office address.
The showcase build is busy and the more prep we can do in advance the better it is for the display!
If you are using a courier and need chilled delivery…
Soul Food are delighted to offer a courier service to Finalists.
Collection/aggregation will be in Dublin on Tuesday 1st Oct 2024
between Noon and 3Pm, with some potential to facilitate outside these times and by agreement.
Delivery to Dingle on 2nd Oct arriving approx. 11.00 Am
Cost per box up to 15Kg is 60 euro plus vat where applicable.Booking essential by latest date Sept 6th
Drop details on booking.
Please contact bill@soulfood.ie for booking enquiries.Contact Bill on 0858582384 or email for any clarification.
Thank you
Bill Roche
Soul Food Ltd
For all deliveries….
- When sending, remember…
- It is vital that the entry number is included clearly (Example 1a-24-10123)
Please include this on the back or underneath every sample so that display products appear at their best. - Two samples of each product (Note, if your product exceeds 1 kg per sample in this case 1 samples will suffice) Best Before date must be included on each sample. All chilled products should arrive at the correct temperature for storage Sampling & Display in The Marquee
- The finalist products will be displayed in their shop ready state. The Blas team will prepare this display.
- Please note that we will not be able to offer space for display stands, leaflets or sampling.
- We do not have the space or facilities to allow producers to offer samples of the products. We may select some products which our team will prepare and offer as samples to buyers and press. This is a very limited amount, based entirely on the facilities, space available and food samples ease of preparation (essentially ‘open & serve’).
2024 Delivery Dates
Find our 2024 Delivery Dates & Locations below
Conor Spacey, Culinary Director of FoodSpace and kitchen sustainability advocate, is named this year’s Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champion 2024
This year’s Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champion is Conor Spacey, chosen for his dedication to championing the best of everything Irish, independent and sustainable.
The Producers’ Champion is selected annually by Blas na hÉireann producers, based on a survey that goes out to the entire Blas network — a network that covers every county in Ireland with producers from all across the food industry. Nominees for Producers’ Champion are put forward early in the year, when producers are asked to nominate those they believe are representing and supporting their produce and that of other Irish food makers and growers in an effective and helpful way.
Conor has been involved in the food industry for over 34 years, having worked across Ireland and the UK in bistros and bars, hotels, banqueting and fine dining. For the past eight years, he has been the Culinary Director of FoodSpace, an award-winning and sustainable on-site food service & hospitality management company, which has grown to over 20 locations throughout Ireland and the UK.
Conor has always had a passion for local and seasonal food, beginning with ensuring that all the food he was serving was grown, produced or farmed within a 50-mile radius of his kitchens. But this was just a starting point for him, as he delved deeper into making professional kitchens more environmentally friendly, removing and replacing unsustainable practices, and becoming one of the industry leaders in zero waste kitchens.
He recently collaborated with Chef’s Manifesto, a global network of chefs driving action for a sustainable food system, and with the United Nations on their sustainable development goals for the global food system. An advocate and speaker on sustainability, Conor published his first book, Wasted, in July last year and his latest project is building a first-of-its kind sustainable cookery school, farm and café in Gambia, creating a totally circular economy within the villages, training people in the hospitality industry, and creating employment across the entire food system.
“I am delighted to be announced as this year’s Producers’ Champion,” said Conor Spacey. “Food sustainability has become more than a passion of mine, it’s a way of life and it’s something I feel everyone can be doing, on a small or large scale. To be nominated by a group of food and drink producers who understand the importance of what I’m doing makes me even more proud to win this award. Thank you to all the producers and industry folk who strive to do better — this is what it’s all about.”
“We are thrilled to announce Conor Spacey as this year’s Producers’ Champion,” said Artie Clifford, founder and Chairman of Blas na hÉireann. “Conor has contributed to the food industry for many years and his passion is second to none. His determination to change the way we talk about food, consume it, and work with it, to leave our planet a better and happier one, is inspiring and something everyone in the food world should be working toward. And most importantly, he has shown it is possible. Congratulations to Conor on this extremely well-deserved award.”
Conor Spacey joins the exclusive Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champions roster that now includes Simon Coveney TD, Neven Maguire, John & Sally McKenna, Shane McArdle, Kai’s Jess Murphy, Darina Allen, Rory O’Connell, Rachel Allen, Brian McDermott and last year’s winner Kate Ryan.
Final call for entries to Blas na hÉireann 2024 – closing date is 16th May. For more details visit www.irishfoodawards.com
Best in Laois Award at Blas na hÉireann
Entries for Blas na hÉireann 2024, the Irish Food Awards are open. Blas na hÉireann is the largest blind-tasted food awards on the island of Ireland, designed to recognise and celebrate the very best Irish food and drink. Entries are open to producers across all categories of food and drink. There is also an opportunity for a producer to be awarded in every county with Best in Laois supported by Laois LEO.
“Local Enterprise Office Laois is delighted to support the 2024 Blas na hÉireann awards. In Laois we are dedicating to promoting the Food & Drink Sector through the Laois TASTE brand, locally, nationally, and internationally. Our aim is to promote local provenance, strengthen the Laois food industry and transform Laois into one of Ireland’s top food destinations.” Evelyn Reddin, Laois LEO
Entries will finally close for this year’s awards on May 16th, with judging happening over the summer months and the awards announced on Friday 4th of October. After a wonderfully successful year in Dingle in 2023 celebrating Irish food and drink producers, the excitement for the upcoming awards this October is already building.
“It’s hard to believe we are now in our 17th year running the awards,” says Artie Clifford, Blas na hÉireann Chairman. “Looking back to when we started and had just under 400 applications to where we are now with nearly 3,000 entries last year, it is testament not only to the fantastic food and drink producers of Ireland, but also to the measurable impact these awards have on small artisan businesses. Since creating the Blas village, we have seen even more momentum and opportunities for producers with high engagement between them and key industry buyers. We are very much looking forward to seeing what this year brings and welcoming new producers participating right across the island.”
In 2023 there were 9 Laois businesses which made it to the finalist stage, Abbey Farm Foods, Aghaboe Farm Ltd, Ballykilcavan Brewing Company, Cocoa Couture, ÍON Oil, Mueller & O’Connell Bakery, Temptation Chocolates, The Village Dairy and Valeo Foods.
Together with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, the team at Blas na hÉireann have developed a blind-tasting judging system that is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide.
Winners and finalists are always the best Blas ambassadors — something to which many hundreds of small producers, farmers, growers, bakers and artisan food makers who have won a Blas na hÉireann award and proudly put the winner’s sticker on their product can attest. Research has shown that the Blas na hÉireann accreditation has the highest recognition among Irish consumers and having the award logo on products encourages shoppers to buy – it is a recognised guarantee of a top-quality Irish product.
Key dates for 2024
16th May – Deadline to enter www.irishfoodawards.com
June/July – Judging with UCC
Mid August – Finalists Notified
4th October – Blas na hÉireann awards presented
(Blas Village with Networking, Showcase, Awards & Eat Ireland in a Day running from 4th – 6th Oct)
2024 Categories
2024 Delivery Locations & Dates for Judging
2024 Entry Form
A look back at 2023 Laois winners
Best in Kildare award at Blas na hÉireann
The finalists for Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, 2024 have been announced and the countdown is now on for another exciting and joyous awards weekend in the pretty seaside town of Dingle. The three-day event will take place from Thursday 3rd October to Saturday 5th October.
The excitement is already building and the Blas team are hard at work preparing for the arrival of food and drink producers from across Ireland to celebrate the very best of Irish.
Now in its 17th year, Blas na hÉireann saw another record-breaking year across all categories along with many new producers entering the awards for the first time this year. During the judging, which took place in June and July, over 3,000 entries were judged, testament to the number of brilliant producers across the country.
Kildare County Council , Head of Enterprise, Jacqui Mc Nabb commented: “We are delighted to see 11 finalists in this year’s Blas na hÉireann and are proud to be sponsoring, for the very first time, Best in Kildare to celebrate the food provenance, taste and above all the passion and talent of our Kildare food & drink producers.”
The finalists shortlisted from Co. Kildare across a range of different categories are Bird’s Eye frozen foods, Coghlan’s Artisan Bakery, Couverture Handmade Desserts & Cakes, Daisy Desserts (Dessert trailer), Firecastle (artisan grocers, delicatessen, bakery and café), Killadoon Milk, (pasteurised, non-homogenised whole milk from their single source jersey-cross herd, using reusable glass bottles), O’Brien Fine Foods (premium cooked meat)s, Pro-Bars Ltd, (Harte’s of Kildare Restaurant) Rye River Craft Brewing, The Brown Bread Guy, and Beara Bitters, handmade cocktail bitters.
Speaking as the finalists were announced, Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford said, “I started the awards after 30 years in the food industry, and I knew there was a need to celebrate the amazing food and drink being produced on the island of Ireland. 17 years later, it continues to delight me the number of new producers entering each year along with so many familiar faces returning year on year. We are an island of phenomenal producers and should be very proud of that, being able to showcase the very best of the best in Dingle each year is a real privilege for the whole Blas team.”
This year’s Blas na hÉireann awards in Dingle will see the return of Eat Ireland in a Day market and the Blas Village where the 2024 finalists will get the opportunity to showcase their products, engage with customers and meet key industry buyers. This year’s focus will be on sustainability with a commitment to encourage zero-waste throughout the three days of the awards in line with the Dingle Food Festival ethos. One new element at Blas will be the removal of any single use cups and the introduction of the first electric van delivering food and drink to the awards from across the country. These new initiatives are supported by Bank of Ireland in partnership with Blas.
With over 3,000 products entered in this year’s Blas na hÉireann, making it as a finalist is a huge achievement and one to be very proud of. The competition ramps up year on year, meaning those producers who are shortlisted as finalists really are the crème de la crème of Irish food and drink.
For finalist producers it is not just their exceptional food and drink which will be celebrated in Dingle but the people themselves, the passionate producers who make the very best of Irish will be recognised and rewarded making Blas na hÉireann 2024 a food event not to be missed!
Notes to Editors:
Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards, are the largest food awards on the island, open to all 32 counties. Judging took place during June and July and awards will be announced on 4th October.
For more information or imagery contact:
Hattie Wrixon
Host & Co
E: hattie@hostandcompany.ie
M: 087 189 1360
Free Branding Event for Irish Food & Drink producers
FREE BRANDING EVENT
Are you ready to dial up your food or drink brand? 🚀
🌟 There is an exciting NEW BRANDING EVENT for Irish Food & Drink producers to Dial Up your Food Brand! This FREE EVENT is fully funded by Taste 4 Success Skillnet. and is designed by Annie Dunne of the art of GRATE food, in association with Blas na hÉireann.
Join us for an educational day on unlocking the secrets of brand building to elevate your business.
Hear insights from industry experts, including brand specialist Pat Kinsley (founder of design agency Neworld), entrepreneur Richard Cullen (founder of the Jelly Bean Factory), marketing & communications specialist Sharon Noonan, and consumer insights expert Michelle Frawley of mykidstime
📅 DATE: 22 May 2024, 10.00am-2.30pm
📍 VENUE: Bia Innovator Campus, Athenry / or you can join VIRTUALLY
🌐 Sign Up here t4s.ie/BrandBiteReg
This event is open to ALL Irish Food & Drink Producers.
BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE!
Attendees will have the chance to apply for the BrandBite Training Programme, receiving a comprehensive brand workshop, a full brand toolkit, new packaging design, and more! The BrandBite Training Programme is significantly funded by Taste 4 Success Skillnet and Skillnet Ireland to support food/drink companies to build their food brand. T&C’s apply.
Eligibility for the Training Programme is subject to the following criteria:
- Has attended Building Your Brand for Business Success on 22 May
- Producer has been a Blas finalist or winner in the past 3 years
- Demonstrates a strong business case and ambition for growth
- Is consciously working to help the climate, local community and/or has an ESG plan in place
- Product is in a new or developing category
- Product is produced in the Republic of Ireland
- Participant is available for the 12 week duration of the programme (average 2-3 hours per week)
- Participant agrees to contribute 25% of the programme fee (€4,997)