Pride of Ireland Awards 2013-2014
The inaugural Pride of Ireland Awards were held in Ballina, County Tipperary, on Sunday night, in a lovely well attended function hosted by the marvellous Sabrina Amodeo in her popular restaurant, the Tuscany Bistro.
We had a warm welcome and all the winners were in top form as we tucked into some gorgeous food. And I can tell you the desserts got some mauling!
I had the honour of compering for the presentation of the awards. And not alone that but I was also presented with one of the awards myself for highlighting the work of local artisans, markets and restaurants. And it was a double for the blogosphere as Fiona Dillon of Carlow’s Hunter's Lodge was another winner.
But mainly it was about the producers, the craftspeople, the local shops and restaurants. As you may know, my motto on this site is Buy Local, Fresh and Fair and it is the winners listed below that make it all possible. They deserve our support. Keep an eye out for them when buying in 2014!
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| The folks from Bunratty Mead (left) and O'Leary's Charlville arrive. |
Thomas Adlum Woodturning from Templemore
Category winner for woodturning
Producing one of a kind pieces from Irish Timber, Thomas Adlum is based in Templemore. Self taught, but working with wood is in the family as his Dad was a carpenter. Thomas says his preference is to work with unusual woods that have been attacked by fungus, rot, wind, and often chainsaws! Thomas loves teaching and runs courses, ranging from 8 weeks to one day.
Thomas also won a Sharing the Passion Award for his work in the community; he opens his workshop to work with children and adults who have gone through some hardships and finds, that when they are there, the focus totally changes and the moods lighten.
Tuscany Bistro Ballina, Sabrina AmadeoOur next winner is a very local restaurant who use local producers and local staff and add an Italian twist. In Ballina’s Tuscany Bistro, and indeed also in Castletroy (where they have been well supported for over 10 years), you’ll find a simple perfection. Whether you want a romantic dinner, a business lunch, or a family treat, you’ll be glad you picked Tuscany. Both the Ballina and Castletroy Tuscany’s picked up awards on the night.
Shirley Kingston-Bandon Farmers MarketShirley has been working as the controller for Bandon Market for 8 years. She is passionate about fresh produce and local artisan producers. I have been to this market a few times and I can see easily see why Bandon people are so proud of it. Might not be the biggest but no shortage of quality there for sure and it is a very friendly space indeed.
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| Shirley Kingston receives her award from Tom, with Yours Truly. |
Irish Bee Sensations
Category Winners for Artisan Jams Marmalades & Honey
I first came across Bee Sensations at the Doneraile Farmers Market and was amazed with the quality and uniqueness of their products. As you probably know, they use their home produced honey instead of sugar in their jams. But, being an innovative couple, Tom and Croéin didn't stop at that so now you can get beautiful jams such as Strawberry and Champagne. And in time for Christmas, they came out with yet another sweet winner, Amarena Cherries with Potcheen.
The Irish Fairy Door Company
Shifted some furniture recently and was left with an small ugly patch where the skirting board was damaged. I think I've found my solution right here! The Irish Fair Door Company are bringing the magic and the fairies back to Irish homes and gardens. Relocating fairies is their motto and so if you have wee space in a room, in the garden wall, maybe at the base of a tree, why not install a fairy door - sure to delight the kids, the grandchildren and the little people.
The big hearted people that help the little people relocate, and make us all smile while they do so, also won a Helping Hands Award for their work in the community.
An Olivia Chocolate
Mullingar based Olivia has gone from making hurling sticks with her dad to creating award winning An Olivia Chocolates. Must admit I only came across her gorgeous products in Dingle this year where she was named the supreme champion at the October Blas Awards. The chocolates are a real pleasure and of course Olivia always incorporates local products.
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| Award winners Sabrina and Michael of Tuscany Bistro |
Meirleach Chroi
Overall winner Celtic Artist
This is our youngest winner who does incredible pencil art and Pride of Ireland feel she is a force to be reckoned with. We’ll use her own words to explain: “You know when you are a little kid and you just discover the magic of pencils & you just want to draw on everything & anything?...I am still at that stage of my life.(at 20 yrs old!!!). "Meirleach Chroi" means "A Bandits Heart" the Bandit being my big softie of a horse.”
This family forage together and create local artisan products from their own home. THey enjoyed a great year in 2013 and now 2014 is starting well for them. You’ll find their unique products at markets across the country. Their foods are made from foraged wild berries,flowers,herbs & crabapples picked on the family farm in Co.Offaly. All the products are made by hand in small batches and include
Rosehip Syrup Concentrate)
Elderberry Syrup Concentrate
Gorse Flower Syrup Concentrate
Spring Nettle Syrup Concentrate
Hawthornberry Syrup (Mans Tea)
Hawthornberry & Ginger Syrup Concentrate (Strong Woman Tonic)
Billy LyonsSpecial Appreciation Award. Check me out here.
O’Leary’s Bar CharlevilleKeeping It Irish
O’Leary’s Bar is a landmark in Charleville Co. Cork, run by a marvellous couple. It still boasts the same old time value and service that is often sadly missing in bigger slicker pubs nowadays
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| Thomas Adlum (centre). |
Bean & Gone Overall winner Teas & Coffee
From their mobile unit, Bean and Gone are well known to market stall holders in Cork and beyond. Indeed many a stall holder and customer has been delighted to see them set up as they are known to have great tasting teas and coffees for all. Indeed, they can turn up anywhere from local car boot sales to large sports events, so keep them in mind if you are organising an event.
Seanchai ListowelTraditional Irish Foods
Seanchai, in the museum in Listowel, consistently provides good old fashioned Irish food daily; staff are friendly and lovely to deal with. All the food is sourced locally and you can combine a meal here with a visit to the museum where local writers such as John B Keane and Bryan McMahon are honoured.
Bradleys Off-LicenceA family business since 1850, Bradley's is somewhat of a Cork institution, currently run by the 4th generation in the person of Michael Creedon. They pride ourselves on a personal, friendly service. They also pride themselves on selling the best of Irish, as many artisans find shelf space here. And if you want an Irish craft beer, then Bradley’s is the place to go! And if you can't make it in person then check them out online.
Finns' Table restaurant
A lovely well run restaurant in Kinsale County Cork. Up to 2012, John and Julie Finn were running a highly successful restaurant called Dillon’s in Timoleague and seemed set for a long stay. But, through no fault of their own, they had to leave. Soon though they bounced back and early last year started Finns' Table in Kinsale. Serving the very best of local produce, the couple haven't looked back since.
Producing a range of fresh fruit drinks including their award winning apple juice, this company is well known for being there for any good cause in their community. They are also well known for top notch quality and, under the driving and innovative force that is Maurice Gilbert, have won a string of awards including a few at Blas.
A lovely experience for morning coffee and lunch and situated in the stunning Doneraile Park. Quality is good and prices are reasonable and you have the added bonus of dining in the old kitchen of the big house. A very pleasant place indeed and just yards from the main street in Doneraile.
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| Winner: Fiona Dillon. |
The Farmers Market in Doneraile Park, held twice a month or thereabouts during the summer, (check their facebook page for exact dates) is well situated in the courtyard of the big house. The market features the best of local produce, including home made jams, chutneys and relishes, smoked salmon, farm apple juice, cheese, bread and scones, delicious cakes and buns as well as a range of arts and crafts from the local area. And, of course, the Tea Rooms alongside. And if you eat too much cake, you can walk it off as you have hundreds of acres in front of you with pleasant riverside paths and herds of curious deer along the way.
Overall winner in craftsmanship & Irish gifts, this family run business creates lovely personalised gifts from Irish Oak. Very unusual items, everything from a feeding bowl for the pet to candleholders to a personalised garden seat. Well worth checking out!
The Cake Fairy Cork
Overall winners.
Joanne, Cork’s own Cake Fairy, along with her mom, are our overall winners for outstanding breads and cakes. In fact, Mam’s brown bread is some of the best in Ireland. Joanne creates all her products from scratch and has a wide range of specialty cakes in her range. The Cake Fairy picked up a second award as they were also deemed the Champion Bakers, “streets ahead” according to the judges.
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| Bakers supreme: Joanne and her Mum. |
Fiona Dillon
Blogger, author, and all round supporter of all things artisan and Irish, Fiona Dillon gets this award for all the hard work she does in her efforts to draw attention to all the wonderful Artisans who work so hard at keeping it Irish.
Keeping it as Irish as it comes, this company has been working for over thirty years making one of the best things to ever come out of Ireland and certainly one of the oldest products…Potcheen, once known as moonshine or, as the song said, the good old mountain dew.
Longueville House is well known for setting a hugh standard and that continues with their Irish Apple Brandy made in their own distillery from their own apple and aged in French oak barrels. Rich and smooth and delightful and a formidable rival for the Calvados of Normandy and a deserving winner.
Irish Bee Sensations Grand Champions
Tom and Croéin were the overall winners “not only because of the quality and uniqueness of their products but also because they are most certainly true artisans and produce a delicious range of honey based products from their own honey. They are master beekeepers for 30 years plus. They also tirelessly promote and encourage other artisans We have been really impressed with their efforts and the pride they take in keeping things Irish”. And so say all of us.
Some of the dishes that we enjoyed at Tuscany
at the awards night. A lovely meal.
Related Posts
Blas na hEireann update on Bee Sensations July 2015 here
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