BREAKING: Tipperary business wins prestigious national prize at food awards

Blas na hÉireann, the Irish food awards, have announced this year’s winners at the four-day celebration of the best of Irish food and drink, which took place from Thursday, October 2 to Sunday, October 5 in Dingle.

This year’s Supreme Champion is Bon Chocolatiers, proudly sponsored by Bord Bia, with Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers announced as Best Artisan Producer, proudly sponsored by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Network.

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Cashel Blue was a groundbreaking Irish farmhouse cheese when it was first produced in 1984 by Louis & Jane Grubb, and over 40 years later and in the hands of the second generation, the Grubb family of the 200-acre Beechmount Farm in Tipperary, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers are this year’s Best Artisan Producer.

With an ambition to create a farmhouse cheese that “truly represents the outstanding quality of Tipperary grass-fed milk”, the multi-award-winning original blue cheese has been joined since by Crozier Blue, the only sheep’s milk blue cheese in the country, by Cashel Blue Organic, and by Shepherd’s Store, a semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese.

All have the same sense of terroir that was the inspiration for these groundbreaking cheeses from the outset, and are regular award-winners in Irish and international competitions.

In 2004, Louis and Jane’s daughter, Sarah, and her husband Sergio Furno, became responsible for the maturing of the cheese, and are now co-owners of the business, continuing the story for the future, and the next generations who will farm and make cheese at Beechmount Farm.

“Our Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer cover the full flavour spectrum,” said Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford, "from salty, savoury, famous blue cheese made for over 40 years, now by the second generation of the same family, to the delicate, handmade sweetness of artistic chocolates created by a young couple, setting out on their adventure in business together".

"41 years ago, Louis and Jane Grubb of Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers were that young couple, taking a risk, trying something new, and in the process, creating a wonderful, groundbreaking cheese that has fans all over the world.

"Georgia and Daniel of Bon Chocolatiers may be at the beginning of their career in chocolate, but having examples like the Grubbs is certainly an inspiration for producers at every stage of their business journey. Blas na hÉireann is delighted to award Supreme Champion 2025 to Bon Chocolatiers and Best Artisan Producer 2025 to Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers — two producers creating exceptional products.”

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This year’s finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions, in partnership with Bank of Ireland.

The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Now in its 18th year, Blas na hÉireann saw another strong year from across all categories along with many new producers entering the awards for the first time this year.