Dingle was the place to be yesterday for the eagerly anticipated finals of Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in their 19th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland.
This year, 7 producers from Co. Clare were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with 7 of them taking home coveted Blas awards. The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include:
Burren Smokehouse Ltd, East Clare Apairies, Inagh Farmhouse Cheese LTD, Leo at home, Lunasa Farm, Óir Lifestyle LTD T/A Óir Tonics and Summerville Wagyu.
Leo at Home was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Clare Local Enterprise Office.
“We are delighted to see eight Clare food producers recognised at this year’s Blas na hÉireann awards, showcasing the exceptional quality, innovation and passion that exists within our local food and drink sector.” said Bernadette Haugh, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Clare.
“The success of these businesses is a wonderful reflection of the talent, dedication and resilience within the county, and demonstrates the growing reputation of Clare as a leading food destination. We are especially pleased to see Leo at Home recognised as Best in County. On behalf of Clare Local Enterprise Office, I would like to congratulate all of the award winners and finalists whose commitment to excellence continues to raise the profile of Clare on the national stage. Clare Local Enterprise Office is proud to support these businesses as they continue to grow, create employment and bring the very best of Clare produce to consumers across Ireland and beyond.”
2026 marks another record year for Blas na hÉireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 200 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.
This year’s finalists and winners had the opportunity to bring their products to life at the Blas Village and the ever-popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both returning to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions, supported by Bank of Ireland. Across the weekend, producers connected with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers and passionate food lovers, while celebrating the people, creativity and craft at the heart of Ireland’s thriving food and drink scene.
Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hÉireann, said: “2026 has once again shown us just how exciting and dynamic Ireland’s food and drink industry is. The standard of entries continues to climb, with producers demonstrating incredible creativity and a real commitment to quality. Reaching the finalist stage is a remarkable achievement in itself, and to take home a Blas award is brilliant recognition of the hard work and passion that goes into every product.
It’s particularly special to see producers from across the country come together in Dingle to share their stories, celebrate their successes and champion the very best of Irish food and drink. Blas is about much more than awards – it’s about celebrating the people and community behind one of Ireland’s most exciting industries. Next year we will celebrate 20 years of the awards and it’s incredible to see just how far we’ve come in those two decades.”
The Blas na hÉireann awards weekend ran from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink. Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.