Local businesses win big at Blas awards in Dingle

Five local businesses brought home awards from the 16th annual Blas na hÉireann awards after a three-day celebration in Dingle last week.

Regarded as the ‘Irish food Oscars’, each year the Blas na hÉireann awards highlight the best of Irish produce with a series of bronze, silver and gold awards.

Products from every county in Ireland were represented in over 150 food and drink categories, with the ‘Created in Cavan’ brand represented by Ice Cream Treats, Drummully Boxty, Cully’s Craft Bakery, Áine Handmade Chocolate and Moran’s Mega Jam.

Ice Cream Treats took two awards in the Ice Cream category this year - a coveted gold for its Moo’d Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream and bronze for its Moo’d Cookies and Cream flavour.

In the Ready Meals and Prepared Foods - Potato- category, Drummully Boxty earned gold for its popular Pan Boxty.

It was an amazing day too for Barney, Brían, Elaine and Jennifer of Cully’s Craft Bakery. The team took home several awards for their breads.

The local bakery earned three gold awards - for its Buttermilk Soda Bread, Crusty White Sliced Pan and Crusty Brown Sliced. Cully’s was also awarded bronze for its Traditional Plain Batch Loaf. As an added bonus, the team were crowned winner of ‘Best in County Cavan’ also.

Ann Rudden and her team at Áine Handmade Chocolate meanwhile picked up a silver award for its Prosecco and Strawberry Milk Chocolate Heart under the seasonal chocolate category; while Kieron and Claire of Moran’s Mega Jam picked up silver in the Savoury Pantry category for its Tomato and Caramelised Red Onion Chutney.

Supreme Champion at the 16th annual Blas na hÉireann awards went to previous finalist and gold medal winner, Derry based Morelli Ice Cream, for Morelli’s Mango Sorbet.

Best artisan producer was named as Miena’s Nougat, a producer of handmade nougats based in Wicklow.