Best in Wicklow at Blas na hÉireann supported by Wicklow LEO

Entries for Blas na hÉireann 2025, the Irish Food Awards are open. 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. There is also an opportunity for a producer to be awarded in every county with Best in Wicklow supported by Wicklow LEO.

“LEO Wicklow have been supporting many local food and drink producers, and Wicklow Naturally members who have gone on to win awards nationally and internationally.” said Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise, LEO Wicklow. ” We’re pleased to partner with Blas na hEireann for the first time this year to mark and recognise the high quality of our local producers of cheeses, chocolates, nougat, beer, distillers or pates.”

Now in their 18th year, Blas na hÉireann is the largest competition for quality Irish produce on the island of Ireland, created to recognise and celebrate the very best of Irish food and drink. Entry deadline 15th May.

“It’s an exciting time when we begin our annual process again,” says Artie Clifford, Blas na hÉireann Chairman. “Every year for the past 18 years we have gone into the competition looking forward to discovering new products and welcoming new producers participating, right across the island, and every year our expectations have been exceeded. With over 3,000 entries in 2024, this year’s bar has been set very high, but we have every confidence in the innovation, talents and commitment of our food producers, and no doubt there will be much to excite and delight in Blas na hÉireann 2025.”

The Blas awards are the biggest blind tasting of produce in the country, and the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC, is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide. The tasting takes place throughout June and July, building towards the biggest celebration of Irish food and its producers when the awards are presented in the Blas Village in Dingle in October.

Last year over 3,000 products from every county in Ireland were entered to win bronze, silver or gold awards in over 170 food and drink categories, as well as key awards like Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer. Winning at Blas makes a significant business difference to winners, with research showing that the Blas accreditation has the highest recognition amongst Irish consumers. Seeing the award logo on packs guarantees shoppers a top quality Irish product.

Chief Executive Wicklow County Council said “Local Enterprise Office Wicklow is delighted to sponsor the Best in County Awards in 2025 and so recognise the talent and commitment of Wicklow’s food & beverage producers. Wicklow’s rich heritage of producing high quality products is going from strength to strength. The Garden of Ireland’s award-winning producers have been building on this legacy and embracing innovation to produce exciting, sustainable, and nutritious food & beverage products”

Caitherolach Paul O’Brien “Wicklow has a rich tradition of excellent winning food producers from our beautiful Garden of Ireland , we are keen to see the best of those Wicklow producers recognised on the national stage through the Blas na hÉireann Food Awards.”

Key dates for 2025

15th May – Deadline to enter www.irishfoodawards.com
June/July – Judging with UCC
Mid August – Finalists Notified
3rd October – Blas na hÉireann awards presented
(Blas Village with Networking, Showcase, Awards & Eat Ireland in a Day running from 3rd – 5th October)

A look back at 2024 Wicklow winners…
Did you know you can also find our winners in each county by searching our map, pinpointing the very best of Irish producers? Search the map here