Food producers shine at Blás

Cavan and Monaghan food producers celebrated a haul of gold, silver and bronze medals at this year’s Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards, with dozens more local products named as finalists.

The 19th annual awards were announced in Dingle last Friday (October 2), following a four-day celebration of Irish food and drink, with more than 3,000 Irish products competing across more than 200 categories.

Cavan enjoyed a particularly impressive showing.

Áine’s Handmade Chocolate in Stradone took four awards; while Manor Farm in Shercock collected eight.

Crust & Crumb Ireland Ltd secured six titles and featured in the Seafood Innovation key winner section, won by The Good Fish Company for its Atlantic Salmon using Panko produced by the Ballyconnell business.

Cullys Craft Bakery in Arva won silver for its Traditional Sliced Batch Loaf, while its Traditional Plain Batch Loaf was a finalist.

Liffey Meats in Ballyjamesduff got gold for its Lidl Deluxe Wagyu Striploin Steak, along with two silvers and a bronze.

Drummully Boxty and Ice Cream Treats, both based in Killeshandra, collected a plethora of prizes; with Bréifne Gael Brewing Company claiming silver for its Ór Dubh Irish Stout. The brewer is also nominated in the Emerging category at the upcoming The Anglo-Celt Business and Tourism Awards.

Mary-Ellen’s Meadow, founded by Rose Carolan in Tierworker, won silver for her Wild Sparkling Wild Nettle. Carolan received the Spirit prize at last year’s Celt awards.

Rolling in the Dough, another finalist in the 2026 Celt Emerging category, won gold for its Carrot Cake, and bronze for their Apple Crumble Cookies and Salted Caramel Brownie.

“It’s unbelievable,” owner Michaela Keenan told the Celt. The business also took the Best in County award for Cavan.

The Virginia woman spoke warmly of the supportive atmosphere among fellow finalists.

“They all know what it’s like, how hard it is to run your own business with the cost of ingredients going up and everything else. Everyone is in the same boat, no matter what, it's lovely to get that recognition.”

Elsewhere in Cavan, Moran’s Mega Jam of Ballinagh was a finalist for its Sweet Chilli Sauce, while Mushrooms & Love in Ballyconnell won silver for its Blissful Mushroom Coffee and bronze for its Shroom Mushroom Crisps.

Terra in Bailieborough secured silver for Lidl Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur 17%.

MONAGHAN WINNERS

Monaghan producers were also among the big winners.

IGWT Poultry Services in Castleblayney collected five awards, including gold for its Lidl Deluxe Fresh Irish Turkey Crown. Silver Hill Duck in Emyvale took four awards, including gold for its Specially Selected Roasted Confit Duck Fillet with Plum Sauce.

Connolly Meats in Scotstown won two silver medals for its Airfryer Smoked Bacon Back and Rind on Centre Cut Rasher; while Carleton Cakes won bronze for its Simply Better Mini Fruit Cakes.

Connolly’s Organic Eggs in Carrickroe secured bronze for M&S 6 Irish Free Range Large Eggs, and products from Grove Farm in Smithborough were named finalists.

Lakeland Dairies won silver for Lidl Dairy Manor Butter, with two other products reaching the final stage.

Carrickmacross-based Tara Gartlan Chocolate took silver for its Hazelnut Praline Hot Chocolate and bronze for its Citrus Collection.

Tara says the Blás logo can make a difference to sales. Her Seasonal Collection won silver in 2025 and is now among the company’s best-selling products. “It’s lovely to get that external affirmation for a product you’ve made, you’ve designed, and that you’ve done multiple tests on,” said Tara, who also won Best in County for Monaghan.

“[The Blás logo] gives people a bit of confidence to buy your products blindly. If they’ve not heard of you and they see the sticker, even the Great Taste Awards, it gives people confidence to buy. They know that, when they buy it, they’re probably going to enjoy the product,” she said.