High ‘steaks’ for Limerick business at food awards

TUCKED away on Little Catherine Street in the city, O'Connell's Butchers have been nominated for a well-known Irish food award.

The butchers was founded in 1919 and has been nominated for a Blas na hÉireann award in the meats category.

The shop is currently run by brother and sister proprietors Paul and Jean Craughan. The Craughan family have worked in the shop for over 70 years, with their father Phil running it before them.

Store Manager Antón Togher said; “This year we have entered our smoked pork belly and we have got into the finals. The awards are part of the Dingle Food Festival and they will take place on Friday, September 29.

"Myself and the owner Paul Craughan will head down together. We have been a finalist in the same category and same awards but were not successful but hopefully we will be this year.”

They have been nominated and won global awards and Anton mentions it does not get any less exciting to be nominated, saying; “It never gets old but you have to keep going and working hard to grow every little bit.”