A County Galway food and drink business has been acknowledged as a winner at the Good Food Ireland\u00ae Awards 2025 in association with FBD Insurance – the only cross-sector awards that champion those who uphold Ireland\u2019s culinary excellence, celebrate local provenance and honour sustainable practices.<\/p>\n
Announced at the awards ceremony at The K Club in Co Kildare on Monday, November 10th, 2025, a Co. Galway business took centre stage winning one of the top accolades of the night. Connemara Smokehouse in Ballyconneely was awarded Fish & Seafood Producer of the Year.<\/p>\n
Ahead of its 20th year in 2026, this year\u2019s Good Food Ireland\u00ae Awards received hundreds of entries from businesses across the country, with thousands of votes cast for the Food Lovers\u2019 Choice Awards.<\/p>\n
Winners were selected by an independent panel of Irish and international experts following mystery inspections and detailed assessments, with strict judging criteria including commitment to local sourcing, Irish provenance, and sustainability.<\/p>\n
Minister Noel Grealish was the guest of honour at the event, acknowledging everyone\u2019s contribution to Irish food, drink and hospitality.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the event, Minister Noel Grealish, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI was delighted to attend the Good Food Ireland Awards, which brings together two of Ireland\u2019s most successful indigenous sectors \u2013 food and tourism. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the event and congratulating the winners, Margaret Jeffares, Founder of Good Food Ireland\u00ae adds:<\/p>\n
\u201cGood Food Ireland\u00ae was born from a desire to celebrate Ireland\u2019s world-class food and drink. Our awards shine a spotlight on the businesses that play a vital role in our entire food ecosystem, from farm to fork.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s finalists spanned the full breadth of the island and guests from every corner of Ireland gathered on Monday 10th November to celebrate the very best in Irish food, drink and hospitality. On the night the Supreme Award went to Fish City in Belfast. Other big winners included Ashford Castle – named as 5 Star Hotel of the Year, Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream from Co. Clare – named as Overall Producer of the Year and Veronica Molloy from Tipperary\u2019s Crossogue Preserves who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n
Awards Official Sponsor, FBD Insurance, has been supporting Farming, Food and Hospitality businesses across Ireland for over 50 years.<\/p>\n
In its third year of sponsorship, John Cahalan, Chief Commercial Officer, FBD Insurance adds: \u201cThe theme of the Good Food Ireland\u00ae Awards 2025 was \u2018Rooted in Taste, Backed by Trust\u2019, which resonates with us as a business. Trust is earned and the winners from this year\u2019s Good Food Ireland\u00ae awards have earned their place as trusted businesses who deliver exceptional products and service day in, day out.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom field to fork, there are so many exceptional businesses across the Island as demonstrated by our extensive list of finalists, but on this occasion, I\u2019m delighted to congratulate Connemara Smokehousefor their award win. Each winner should feel enormously proud to be recognised as one of the best in Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other key sponsors of the awards include AIB, Wine Consultants Ireland, Waterford and Tourism Ireland, Guinness Storehouse, and All Fresh among others, whose support is important in celebrating excellence across Ireland\u2019s vibrant food and tourism sectors.<\/p>\n