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 Mayo supported by Mayo LEO

John Magee, Head of Enterprise with Mayo County Council “Local Enterprise Office Mayo is delighted to support the Blas na hÉireann awards again this year. The awards recognise and celebrate the highest quality food and drink produce throughout the country and we continue to work with our local producers across these sectors in Mayo offering a range of supports to help grow and scale their business. We encourage all local food and drinks businesses to take part in these awards as an opportunity to promote their products and reach a wider market.”

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.”

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 Mayo winners…

Blas na hÉireann 2025 winners announced in Dingle, with 18 producers from Co. Galway taking home awards and Grá Chocolates winning Best in County, proudly supported by Galway Local Enterprise Office

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All roads led to Dingle on Friday 3rd October for the eagerly anticipated finals of Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in their 18th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland.

This year, 18 producers from Co. Galway were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with all of them taking home coveted Blas awards. The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include:

All About Kombucha, Birdhouse, Builin Blasta Cafe, Bakery & Retail, DK Connemara Oysters, Dough Bro’s, Foods of Athenry, Galmere Fresh Foods, Gather/Abbert Bailiu Teoranta, Grá Chocolates, Ivy House Chocolates, Joyce Country Bakery/, Bácús Dhúiche Sheoigheach, Kylemore Abbey & Gardens Ltd., Loughnane’s Of Galway, Sean Loughnanes, The Foods of Athenry and The Lán Kitchen.

Grá Chocolates was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Galway Local Enterprise Office.

“On behalf of myself and the LEO team, I warmly congratulate Gráinne Mullins and the team at Grá Chocolates on this outstanding achievement.” said Caroline McDonagh, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Galway. “Their dedication to craft and flavour continues to elevate Galway’s reputation as a hub for world-class artisan food. We are proud to see their work recognised on a national stage and wish them continued success.”

2025 marks another record year for Blas na hÉireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This year’s finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland. The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hÉireann, said “Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception. To see such talented producers from Co. Galway represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity and resilience of Ireland’s food producers. Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud. Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle.”

The Blas na hÉireann awards weekend ran from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink. Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.

ENDS

www.irishfoodawards.com

#Blas2025

@BlasNaHEireann

Notes to Editors

Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, are the largest food awards on the island of Ireland, open to all 32 counties. Judging took place during June and July in partnership with UCC. Finalists were announced in mid-August. Awards were presented in Dingle on Friday 3rd October, with the Blas weekend (Blas Village, Showcase, Awards & Eat Ireland in a Day) running from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October.

For more information or imagery contact:

Hattie Wrixon, Host, hattie@hostandcompany.ie

Did you know you can also find our finalists & winners in each county by searching our map, pinpointing the very best of Irish producers? Search the map here

The Best in Galway award is supported by Galway LEO
You can find details of Galway Local Enterprise Office here
091 509090
info@leo.galwaycoco.ie

There are a few key details to check:

1. Check your delivery date and location. We have different dates & locations planned by category, these are crucial. You can check delivery dates & locations here.
   
2. Keep deliveries simple and we are asking producers to be especially mindful of deliveries and to use courier or postal delivery where possible & practical. In the case of large single deliveries from one producer, we will work with you to confirm an agreed delivery date and time.
   
3. Please note products should be delivered as they are presented in their packaging to the customer. 
   Our team will unpack and prepare for blind tasting.
   Please be sure to include your entry number on each sample as well as on the outer box
   Please complete your delivery form, a copy of which you can download here
   
4. 3 samples of each product entered are required  
   (In the case where your product is over 1 kilo in weight, please deliver 2 samples only)
   Remember, include your entry number on each sample please
   
5. Best Before date must be included with all deliveries and all entries should be delivered with maximum possible shelflife.
   
6. All chilled products should arrive at the correct temperature for storage and will be checked on delivery. You can find some helpful info on chilled delivery options here
   
7. Any products which do not adhere to the delivery terms or which are not delivered on time will be disqualified from the competition.

If you have questions just ask us
If you have different delivery dates or locations, we will make every effort to consolidate if we can, just ask us
If you are unsure about anything in the above, just ask us

Fallon – 087 9029329
Artie – 087 2026420
info@irishfoodawards.com

A few key dates we have spotted which might be of interest….

Going to IFEX? Artie will be joining the spotlight stage discussing Food Awards, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly alongside John Farrand, GTA, Daniela Morelli & Laura Bradley More details here

Local Enterprise Office Week is running from 4th March, there are lots of great training sessions and events happening right around Ireland, please check with your local office here

Lidl Kickstart applications close this Thursday 29th February – more info here

Musgrave Food Academy is open for applications from March 11th – April 15th – more info here

Taste4Success – Upcoming Training Programmes

Irish Food Trade Connect Forum, in Killashee House 21st March – more details