Celebrating 40 Years of Community at the Table
The annual Euro-Toques Ireland Food Awards took place on Monday 25th May at Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Co. Wicklow, bringing together chefs, producers, growers, fishers, artisans and advocates of Irish food culture from across the island.
A landmark year for Euro-Toques Ireland
This year’s gathering marked a particularly special occasion as Euro-Toques Ireland celebrated 40 years since its foundation by Mrs Myrtle Allen in 1986. Over four decades, the organisation has championed food integrity, biodiversity, craftsmanship, traditional skills and meaningful connections between chefs and producers.
The theme for the 2026 Awards, “Community at the Table – from place to plate”, reflected the belief that food is not simply about what we eat, but about how we gather, share knowledge, sustain local communities and preserve cultural heritage through food.
Established in 1996, the Euro-Toques Ireland Food Awards were created to recognise and celebrate the finest food produced on the island of Ireland while shining a light on the people behind it – the farmers, fisherfolk, growers, cheesemakers, millers, distillers and craftspeople whose dedication continues to shape Ireland’s culinary identity.
Celebrating Ireland’s food producers
This year’s awards celebrated producers working across seven categories: Water, Land, Farm, Dairy – Aged Cheese, Dairy – Soft Cheese, Artisan Produce and Traditional Craft/Skill.
For the 2026 Food Awards, Euro-Toques Ireland partnered with a dedicated group of category sponsors united by a shared commitment to celebrating Irish food culture, sustainability, craftsmanship and the connection between chefs and producers.
“This year’s theme, Community at the Table, speaks directly to what Euro-Toques has stood for over the past 40 years,” said Conor Halpenny of Square Dundalk, Chair of Euro-Toques Ireland.
“Food is never just about what is on the plate. It is about the people, traditions, skills and relationships behind it. These awards celebrate producers whose work strengthens local communities, preserves heritage and keeps Irish food culture alive for future generations.”
Aishling Moore of Goldie in Cork, Head of the Euro-Toques Ireland Food Council, added:
“The Food Awards recognise producers whose work reflects integrity, care and a deep connection to the land and sea. This year’s winners represent the extraordinary diversity of Irish food production – from sustainably harvested crab and organically cultivated mushrooms to heritage pork, farmhouse cheeses, stone-milled flour and traditional poitín. They are custodians of knowledge and flavour, and they remind us that community is built through food.”
Principal partner La Rousse Foods
Principal partner La Rousse Foods supported the overall event and Euro-Toques Ireland’s ongoing mission to champion the people behind Ireland’s ingredients and culinary traditions. This year’s ceremony also included a special reflection on Irish wool and the importance of preserving Ireland’s fibre heritage. Each winner received a handmade woollen blanket crafted by Ériu in County Wicklow.
Celebrating Irish wool heritage
A special focus of this year’s ceremony was the celebration of Irish wool heritage. Each winner received a handmade wool blanket created by Ériu in County Wicklow, recognising the importance of preserving native Irish wool traditions and supporting emerging Irish wool supply chains. While Ireland has a rich woollen tradition deeply connected to its cultural identity, very little wool sold today as “Irish wool” actually comes from Irish-grown fibre.
Organisers highlighted the need for greater transparency and fairer recognition for authentic Irish wool and the farmers and craftspeople working to preserve this vital aspect of Ireland’s cultural identity. Encouragingly, initiatives such as the Galway Wool Co-op and Ériu’s farm-to-yarn model are helping rebuild local supply chains and restore visibility to native Irish wool.
2026 Euro-Toques Ireland Food Awards Winners
Water
Sponsor: BIM – Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Recognising Ireland’s small-scale crab fishermen and sustainable shellfish producers.
Nominees:
- Aran Island Seafoods, Co. Galway
- CS Fish, Co. Clare
- Lambay Island Crab, Dublin
- Oliver Rogers Crab, Co. Down
Winner: Aran Island Seafoods
Land
Sponsor: La Rousse Foods
Celebrating Ireland’s innovative mushroom growers and sustainable cultivation practices.
Nominees:
- Ard Mhaca Mushrooms, Co. Armagh
- Ashford Mushrooms, Co. Wicklow
- Garryhinch Mushrooms, Co. Offaly
- The Mushroom Butcher, Dublin
Winner: Garryhinch Mushrooms
Farm
Sponsor: Ballymaloe Cookery School
Honouring rare breed pig producers committed to regenerative and free-range farming.
Nominees:
- Glenbrook Farm, Co. Cork
- Lunasa Farm, Co. Clare
- Newbard Farm, Co. Waterford
- Winetavern Farm, Co. Wicklow
Winner: Winetavern Farm
Dairy – Aged Cheese
Celebrating traditional farmhouse cheesemaking and slow maturation techniques.
Nominees:
- Kinlahan Reserve by Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese, Co. Galway
- Rathkenny by Boyne Valley Cheese, Co. Meath
- Shepherd’s Store by Cashel Farmhouse Cheese, Co. Tipperary
- Templegall by Hegarty Cheese, Co. Cork
Winner: Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese
for Kinlahan Reserve
Dairy – Soft Cheese
Sponsor: CAIS
Recognising exceptional Irish soft cheesemakers.
Nominees:
- Ardsallagh Goats Cheese, Co. Cork
- Aran Islands Goats Cheese, Co. Galway
- Cnoc Liatroma by Leitrim Hill Creamery, Co. Leitrim
- St. Tola Divine by St. Tola Farmhouse Cheese, Co. Clare
Winner: Leitrim Hill Creamery
for Cnoc Liatroma
Artisan Produce
Sponsor: Gather & Gather
Honouring Irish flour producers working from field to flour using traditional milling methods.
Nominees:
- Dunany Flour, Co. Louth
- Oak Forest Mills, Co. Kilkenny
- The Little Mill Company, Co. Kilkenny
- The Merry Mill, Co. Laois
Winner: Dunany Flour
Traditional Craft / Skill
Sponsor: by Brita Ireland
Celebrating the revival of traditional Irish poitín distilling.
Nominees:
- Malt na Mara by Blackwater Distillery, Co. Waterford
- Micil Irish Poitín by Micil Distillery, Co. Galway
- Pangur Irish Poitín by Killowen Distillery, Co. Down
- The Big Field Poitín by Tipperary Boutique Distillery, Co. Tipperary
Winner: Micil Distillery
for Micil Irish Poitín
A celebratory lunch rooted in Irish produce
Following the awards ceremony, guests gathered for a celebratory lunch showcasing Irish produce from nominees and winners across all categories. The event created opportunities for chefs and producers to connect directly, reinforcing Euro-Toques Ireland’s belief that strong food communities are built through relationships, collaboration and shared values.
The 2026 Food Awards once again highlighted the importance of protecting Ireland’s food heritage while supporting innovation, sustainability and the next generation of Irish producers and craftspeople.
