Calling all Derry producers: Entries open for Blas na hÉireann, Irish Food Awards

Entries for Blas na hÉireann 2024, the Irish Food Awards, open on Saint Patrick’s Day, Sunday March 17, giving Derry companies the chance to add to their seven winners from last year.

Morelli’s Ice Cream was named the 2023 supreme champion after impressing the judges with their dessert spot’s dairy free mango sorbet.

There were also wins in the County Derry category in 2023 for Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, Carol's Stock Market, Corndale Farm, Milgro Ltd, Taste Joy Company Ltd, William Grant and Company Limited.

Blas na hÉireann is the largest blind-tasted food awards on the island of Ireland, designed to recognise and celebrate the very best Irish food and drink. Entries are open to producers across all categories of food and drink with the early bird discounted rate for entries running until April 3.

Entries will finally close for this year’s awards on May 16, with judging happening over the summer months and the awards announced on Friday, October 4. After a wonderfully successful year in Dingle in 2023 celebrating Irish food and drink producers, the excitement for the upcoming awards this October is already building.

“It’s hard to believe we are now in our 17th year running the awards,” says Artie Clifford, Blas na hÉireann Chairman. “Looking back to when we started and had just under 400 applications to where we are now with nearly 3,000 entries last year, it is testament not only to the fantastic food and drink producers of Ireland, but also to the measurable impact these awards have on small artisan businesses.

"Since creating the Blas village, we have seen even more momentum and opportunities for producers with high engagement between them and key industry buyers. We are very much looking forward to seeing what this year brings and welcoming new producers participating right across the island.”

Together with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, the team at Blas na hÉireann have developed a blind-tasting judging system that is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide.

Winners and finalists are always the best Blas ambassadors — something to which many hundreds of small producers, farmers, growers, bakers and artisan food makers who have won a Blas na hÉireann award and proudly put the winner’s sticker on their product can attest. Research has shown that the Blas na hÉireann accreditation has the highest recognition among Irish consumers and having the award logo on products encourages shoppers to buy – it is a recognised guarantee of a top-quality Irish product.

Entries for Blas na hÉireann 2024 open on March 17 and there is an early bird fee of €70 (ex VAT) until April 3. For full rates and further details, please visit the Irish Food Awards website. Good luck!