Cork duo triumph at Good Food Ireland Awards 2025
Cork has a long and illustrious history at the Good Food Ireland Awards and two county Cork businesses were among the winners this year.
These awards are the only cross-sector awards that champion those who uphold Ireland’s culinary excellence, celebrate local provenance and honour sustainable practices.
Announced at the awards ceremony at The K Club in Co. Kildare on Monday 10 November, Cork businesses won some of the top accolades of the night.
Adding to its world-class reputation, Ballymaloe House Hotel was named as Culinary Haven of the Year and the prestigious Restaurant of the Year was jointly awarded to The Church Restaurant in Skibbereen alongside The Lemon Tree in Letterkenny.
Ahead of its 20th year in 2026, this year’s Good Food Ireland Awards received hundreds of entries from businesses across the country, with thousands of votes cast for the Food Lovers Choice Awards.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of Irish and international experts following mystery inspections and detailed assessments, with strict judging criteria including commitment to local sourcing, Irish provenance, and sustainability.
Minister Noel Grealish was the guest of honour at the event and acknowledged everyone’s contribution to Irish food, drink and hospitality.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, said: “At their heart, the Good Food Ireland Awards honour excellence, and reflect the values and vision embedded in Food Vision 2030, our national strategy for sustainable agri-food development, that have made Irish food a global benchmark for quality and sustainability.”
Congratulating the winners, Margaret Jeffares, Founder of Good Food Ireland added: “Good Food Ireland was born from a desire to celebrate Ireland’s world-class food and drink. Our awards shine a spotlight on the businesses that play a vital role in our entire food ecosystem, from farm to fork.
“Cork has been at the forefront of Ireland’s food and tourism landscape for decades, and this year’s theme - Rooted in Taste, Backed by Trust - feels especially fitting. Many of the original businesses who joined the Good Food Ireland Collection at our founding in 2006 came from Cork, and it is a testament to their commitment to quality that they remain part of the collection nearly 20 years later.
“To see two award winners from across the island of Ireland hail from Cork is an incredible achievement and further reinforces Cork’s position as one of the country’s leading food tourism destinations.”
This year’s finalists spanned the full breadth of the island and guests from every corner of Ireland gathered on Monday 10 November to celebrate the very best in Irish food, drink and hospitality. On the night the Supreme Award went to Fish City in Belfast. The Good Food Ireland Awards 2025 were in association with FBD Insurance. For further information, visit goodfoodireland.ie.