At a ceremony at The K Club in County Kildare on Monday, November 10, Ireland’s leading food and drink businesses were celebrated at the only cross-sector awards that champion those who uphold Ireland’s culinary excellence, celebrate local provenance and honour sustainable practices.
The event brought together guests from every corner of the country to recognise and reward the very best in Irish food, drink, and hospitality.
Brid and Roger Fahy of Linnalla Pure Irish Ice Cream. Image: Linnalla Pure Irish Ice Cream’s Facebook
Clare businesses took home some of the night’s most coveted prizes, with Sweet N Green in Ennis winning the ‘Café of the Year’ gong, Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream taking home ‘Dairy Producer of the Year’ and ‘Overall producer of the Year’, and Wilde Irish Chocolates winning the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands category of the Food Lovers Choice Award 2025.
Among other major winners were Ashford Castle, Mayo (5-Star Hotel of the Year), Ballymaloe House Hotel, Cork (Culinary Haven of the Year), and Fish City, Belfast (Supreme Award).
Sweet N Green win at the Good Food Ireland awards 2025, held at the K Club, Kildare. Image: Paul Sherwood
A ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented to Veronica Molloy of Crossogue Preserves, Tipperary, honouring her decades-long dedication to Irish food craft.
Ahead of its 20th anniversary in 2026, the Good Food Ireland Awards received hundreds of entries from across the island of Ireland, with thousands of votes cast by the public for the Food Lovers’ Choice Awards.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of Irish and international experts following mystery inspections and detailed assessments, based on strict judging criteria that included local sourcing, provenance, and sustainability.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Noel Grealish, was the guest of honour at the event, acknowledging everyone’s contribution to Irish food, drink and hospitality.
Wilde Irish Chocolates win at the Good Food Ireland awards 2025, held at the K Club, Kildare. Image: Paul Sherwood
“I was delighted to attend the Good Food Ireland Awards which brings together two of Ireland’s most successful indigenous sectors – food and tourism,” Minister Grealish said.
“At their heart, the Good Food Ireland Awards honour excellence, and reflect the values and vision embedded in Food Vision 2030, our national strategy for sustainable agri-food development, that have made Irish food a global benchmark for quality and sustainability.”
Margaret Jeffares, Founder of Good Food Ireland, added: “Good Food Ireland was born from a desire to celebrate Ireland’s world-class food and drink.
“Our awards shine a spotlight on the businesses that form the heart of our food ecosystem, from farm to fork, land to sea.
“This year’s theme – ‘Rooted in Taste, Backed by Trust’ is a powerful reflection of the values that unite our members.
“Each of our winners represents the very best of Ireland’s culinary heritage and the trust our consumers place in locally sourced, quality food.”
Linnalla Pure Irish Ice Cream win ‘Overall producer of the Year’ at the Good Food Ireland awards 2025, held at the K Club, Kildare. Image: Paul Sherwood
Following the event, the three Clare winners took to social media to share their happiness with the wins.
“We’re proud to be a winner of the Good Food Ireland Food Lovers Choice Award this week and to be in the company of other great Clare food businesses,” Wilde Irish Chocolates said. “It’s great to get this award on the basis of a public vote too.”
Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream added: “Delighted to win the Good Food Ireland awards in the Dairy category.”
Sweet N Green kept it hilariously short, simply saying: “Wohoo, hon the Banner.”