40 of the best for Blas awards
A whole host of Cork producers have made the finals of Blas na hÉireann’s Irish Food Awards 2025.
40 fantastic producers from Cork have made the final stage of Ireland’s most prestigious food awards.
The awards take place in Dingle this autumn, where the very best of Irish food and drink will be celebrated from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 October, with the Blas Village, Showcase, Eat Ireland in a Day market and the awards themselves all running on Friday 3 October.
Now in its 18th year, Blas na hÉireann continues to grow, with more than 3,000 entries submitted from across the island, and a record number of new producers taking part. The 2025 awards also see the biggest ever expansion in categories, now totalling 190, including significant growth in fast-evolving areas such as alcoholic drinks and their non-alcoholic alternatives.
The judging, which took place over May, June and July in partnership with UCC and TU Dublin, is blind-tasted and scored by a network of expert judges, including chefs, buyers, academics, restaurateurs, and industry leaders. Only the top entries from each category make it to the finalist stage.
The finalists shortlisted from Cork across a wide range of categories are: Alternative Christmas Pudding Company, Andrea's Kitchen, Bandon Vale Cheese Ltd., Bantry Bay Seafoods, Beara Distillery Ltd, Blacks Brewing & Distilling, Clona Dairy Products Ltd, Durrus, Folláin, Foxway Co T/A Silver Pail Dairy, Fudge Delights, Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese, Hassetts Bakers & Confectioners Ltd, Horgans Delicatesen Supplies, Hyde Ltd, Irish Yogurts Ltd, K O'Connell Fish Merchants, Keohane Seafoods, Kepak, Kinsale Mead Co., Leahys Open Farm, Malay Kitchen, McCarthy's of Kanturk, Mella's Fudge, Nohoval Drinks Company Ltd T/A Stonewell Cider & Nohoval Apple Wine, North Cork Creameries, Nua Asador, O Donovan's Enniskeane, O'Flynn's Gourmet Sausage Company, Ogam Foods Ltd, O'Keeffes Bakery/Irish Country Cuisine, On The Pigs Back (La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd), Sage Products, Scally's of Clonakilty, SuperValu, Second Street Bakeshop, Skeaghanore West Cork farm, The Good Fish Company, Velo Coffee Roasters, West Cork Distillers and Wildberry Bakery.
“We are delighted to see Local Enterprise Office clients recognised as finalists in this year’s Blas na hÉireann awards,” said Niall O’Keeffe. Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Cork. “This achievement reflects the passion, innovation, and dedication that define Ireland’s finest food producers. We are proud to have supported these outstanding entrepreneurs on their journey and look forward to seeing their continued success on the national and international stage.”
“It’s been an exciting year for the Blas na hÉireann awards,” says Blas na hÉireann Chairperson Artie Clifford. “That’s not just in terms of the ever-growing number of entries, but in the incredible standard of produce from both long-standing producers and impressive newcomers. We’ve also seen huge innovation across all categories, which reflects the evolving landscape of Irish food and drink. For us, these awards are about championing the producers, and giving them the spotlight they deserve in Dingle each October. We can’t wait to welcome them.”
This year’s Blas na hÉireann weekend will see the return of the hugely popular Eat Ireland in a Day market and the Blas Village, where 2025 finalists can showcase their products, connect with buyers, and meet with fellow producers, media and food lovers from across the country.