It’s clear that Irish producers are at the top of their game, whether championing the familiar or innovating for the future …
The generous bounty of Irish land and shore is a wondrous thing, but historically has been somewhat underappreciated by us, the inhabitants of the island of Ireland. Our fascination with food and produce from foreign shores is hardly surprising but once again, Irish produce is back on top. While we will always have an appreciation for the excellent produce from across the globe, showing appreciation of our own is something that needs to be sustained and encouraged. With the passing of time comes progress and initiative and Irish producers are certainly at the top of their game, whether championing the familiar or innovating for the future.
The Irish Food Writers’ Guild has been at the fore of supporting and encouraging Irish producers since 1993 and this year’s award recipients show just how much the Irish food industry has evolved.
After a hellish two years for the Irish food industry, there is a collective sigh of relief as things finally get back to normal and the IFWG awards feel like a celebration of just that. This year, tradition was the running theme among the winners with food heroes who are showcasing the very best of Irish land and sea
Martin, Grainne & Helen Calvey, Calvey’s Achill Mountain Lamb
“Many of our 2022 winners are traditional products, but with a twist. From fishmonger to baker, cheese maker to the Galway duo who have played with the traditional Irish love of tea, innovative producers are putting their own stamp on things, creating something unique and something quite delicious,” said Caroline Hennessy.
Teresa Roche, Coolfin Cheese
The winners of the 2022 Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards included Bread 41, one of the city’s best-known and well-loved artisan companies; Calvey’s Achill Mountain Lamb who have been sheep farmers on Achill Island for over a century and a half; and Coolfin cheese where Teresa Roche makes Alpine-style hard cheese made in the foothills of the Slieve Aughty mountains in East Galway.
Emmet Kerrigan & Keith Loftus, All About Kombucha
The drinks award went to Galway-based All About Kombucha, established in 2017 by Emmett Kerrigan and Keith Loftus, two young entrepreneurs from Galway who brew freshly fermented sparkling tea from organic ingredients, with the notable contribution to Irish food award going to Stefan Griesbach of Gannet Fishmongers, also in Galway.
Carina Conyngham, Rock Farm Slane
Ellie Kisyombe, Our Table
Rock Farm Slane, an intertwined organic farm and ecotourism business underpinned by sustainable and environmentally-conscious practices in Co Meath took home the environmental award, while the community food award went to Our Table, a community-based, social enterprise that uses food as a way to connect, start a conversation and draw attention to the realities of those living in Direct Provision. Our Table was founded by Malawian Ellie Kisyombe, a former asylum seeker, and café owner Michelle Darmody who started out by hosting pop-up and catering events aimed at generating awareness about conditions within the Direct Provision system, while also providing immigrants with employment.
Sally Ferns
The well-deserved lifetime achievement award winner was the inimitable Sally Barnes. Sally has been perfecting the art of smoking wild Irish fish at West Cork’s Woodcock Smokery since 1979 and over the last 40 years, she has acquired great knowledge on everything that links the ocean and its bounty, smoke curing, and working with nature and natural processes. The Keep, established adjacent to the smokery in 2020, is where that knowledge is shared through masterclasses in the art of curing and smoking wild fish. Sally is the last person in Ireland that exclusively handles wild fish and is a keystone in the age-old traditions of our Irish food culture.
It looks like the future of the Irish food industry is in safe hands.
