Dingle was the place to be on Friday 2nd October 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, 20 producers from Co. Wexford were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with 17 of them taking home coveted Blas awards. The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include:
Atlantis Seafood, Ballydane Farm, Elderberry Farm, Furlong Family Butchers Ltd, Irish Country Meats (ABP), Killowen Farm, Mini’s Chilli Cheese, Mór Taste, Pettitt’s Supervalu, Saltrock Dairy Ltd, Sean Staffords Bakeries, Trudie’s Kitchen, Wexford Home Preserves, Wexford Sea Salt, O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co and Zanna Cookhouse.
Zaeire Artisan Chocolates was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Wexford Local Enterprise Office.
“Local Enterprise Office Wexford and Wexford County Council are delighted to congratulate Zaeire Artisan Chocolates on being named the 2026 Best in County winner.” said Angela Lawless, Head of Enterprise Wexford LEO. “Since first starting in her kitchen in 2013, Leigh has shown remarkable dedication and ambition, growing Zaeire into a recognised Wexford brand with a reputation for exceptional quality. This award is a testament to her hard work and innovation. We are proud to support businesses like Zaeire and also congratulate all twenty Blás finalists from Co Wexford, whose success highlights the strength and excellence of County Wexford’s artisan and premium food sector.”
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
Wexford Weekly
This article was published by a member of the Wexford Weekly team.
To advertise on our website or social media channels, email our team | Click here –> Rates | info@wexfordweekly.com
Read also: