Irish Food Writing Awards Winners Announced

Tuesday 12th November 2024

The fourth annual Irish Food Writing Awards established to recognise and celebrate the high quality of food and drink writing from throughout the island of Ireland, across print, broadcast and online were held recently at the RDS in Dublin. Year on year an increasing number of submissions are received, and new categories are added to reflect the evolving media landscape including a ‘Food History and Heritage Award’, which was judged by Dr Neil Buttery, an award winning author, blogger, podcaster & cook.

Over 100 award finalists and guests attended from throughout the island of Ireland, competing for the 21 awards on offer covering Irish food and drink journalism, cookbooks, feature writing, blogging, podcasting, photography and Instagram/TikTok.

The awards were attended by some of the esteemed international judges including ITV Drinks Journalist Andy Clarke, Tom Hunt – Eco-chef, Writer and BBC Saturday Kitchen Regular, and Hello Magazine’s Charlotte Pike, former Chair of the UK Guild of Food Writers. Other judges included Xanthe Clay, Fiona Beckett, Colman Andrews and Tim Hayward.

The awards, established in 2021 by Suzanne Campbell with Paul O’Connor, are kindly sponsored by Sharon Noonan, Certified Irish Angus, Glenmar Shellfish, Clayton Hotels, Odaois Foods, Pestle + Mortar, Invest NI, &Smyth Creative Communications, Gather+Gather, Rascals Brewing, Whelehan’s Wines, Powerscourt Distillery, Kerrygold, Ballymaloe Foods, Bord Bia, Safco Fine Foods, Ballygowan, Drummond House Garlic, Coole Swan and James Whelan Butchers.

Irish Food Writing Awards founder, journalist Suzanne Campbell, said “Yet again, we have been delighted and gratified by the number of entries we have received. It is always an honour and a pleasure to work with our international judges and Irish food and drink sponsor companies. We could not do this without their support. When Paul O’Connor and I were inspired to set up the awards, having seen how vital food writing was during Covid, and the hard work of the food and drink community continues to educate, entertain and encourage the very best in hospitality and food production.”

Pictured: Shauna Magill-Fegan, Invest NI's Food and Drink Division, presenting the award for 'Best Irish Food Magazine/Supplement' to Madeleine Lyons of the Irish Times Food magazine.

Full list of the 2024 winners of the Irish Food Writing Awards:

Irish Food or Drink Podcast

Judged by Nigel Barden, sponsored by Sharon Noonan

Winner: “Dishing it Out” from Gary O’Hanlon and Gareth Mullins

Writing on Irish Food Producers,

Judged by Robb Walsh, sponsored by Certified Irish Angus

Winner: Kitty Corrigan for her essays in “The Irish Bakery”

Writing on Seafood Award

Judged by Robb Walsh, sponsored by Glenmar Shellfish

Winner: Caroline Hennessy

Emerging Voice in Irish Food Writing

Judged by Charlotte Pike, sponsored by Clayton Hotels

Winner: Jennie Moran for “How to Soften Corners”

Food Photography (professional category)

Judged by Cris Barnett, sponsored by Odaois Foods

Winner: Ruth Calder-Potts

Food Photography (amateur category)

Judged by Cris Barnett, sponsored by Odaois Foods

Winner: Jasmine Hughes

Irish Food Blog Award,

Judged by Charlotte Pike, sponsored by Pestle+Mortar sauces

Winner: “Gorse” from Ciara Ohartghaile

Irish Food Magazine/Supplement

Judged by Xanthe Clay, sponsored by Invest NI

Winner: Irish Times Food

Writing on Sustainability in Irish Food Award

Judged by Catherine Mack and Tom Hunt, sponsored by &Smyth Creative Communications

Winner: Aoife Carrigy

Cookbook of The Year

Judged by Colman Andrews, sponsored by Gather & Gather

Winner: “The Irish Bakery” by Cherie Denham, photography by Andrew Montgomery and essays by Kitty Corrigan

Beer Writing Award

Judged by Richard Croasdale, sponsored by Rascals Brewing

Winner: Shamin deBrun

Wine Writing Award

Judged by Oz Clarke, sponsored by Whelehans Wines

Winner: Mick O’Connell, Food and Wine Magazine

Spirits Writing Award

Judged by Fiona Beckett, sponsored by Powerscourt Distillery

Winner: Oisin Davis

Culinary Student Award

Judged by Jess Murphy and Gareth Mullins, sponsored by Kerrygold

Winner: Lance Lumanium, ATU Donegal

Food History and Heritage Award

Judged by Dr Neil Buttery, sponsored by Ballymaloe Foods

Winner: Kitty Corrigan

Food Writing Award

Judged by Deborah Reid, sponsored by Bord Bia

Winner: Janine Kennedy

Writing on International Cuisines

Judged by Romy Gill, sponsored by Safco Fine Foods

Winner: Victory Nwabu-Ekeoma for “Bia Zine”

Restaurant Critic Award

Judged by Tim Hayward, sponsored by Ballygowan

Winner: Corinna Hardgrave

Investigative Writing Award

Judged by Dan Saladino, sponsored by Drummond House Garlic

Winner: Tommy Greene from The Journal Investigates

Cookery Writing Award

Judged by Ed Smith

Winner: Lilly Higgins, Irish Times

Irish Food on Instagram/Tiktok Award.

Judged by Andy Clarke, sponsored by Coole Swan

Winner: Sebastian Skillings “The Hungry Fishmonger”

Outstanding Achievement in Food Writing Award

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Irish Food Writing Awards Winners Announced