Tag Archives: Irish Food Awards

A CLOONEY beekeeper is in a strong position to add to his growing collection of awards following his selection as a finalist in the Irish Food Awards. Michael Curran’s Beekeeping and Honey Harvesting has been in operation for over 30 years and the apiary currently has in excess of 200 hives at his home and in various locations throughout East Clare. A key member of Banner Beekeepers’ Association, Mr Curran has won a multitude of awards at national level. Now operating as a full time commercial business in Clooney since he retired from work in 2013, Mr Curran has won awards in the Clonmel and Phoenix Park Honey Shows, fourth prize in a major show in London in a line up of a few hundred competitors and wins accolades on an annual basis. Most of these awards are based on the overall taste, look and presentation of his honey. In 1985, he started beekeeping as a hobby and now breeds …

MAKING tasty spiced beetroot relish has helped a South- East Clare food producers to secure a place in the 2020 Blas na hEireann Awards finals. Bramble Cottage Produce has beaten off stiff competition to become a finalists in the Irish Food Awards. Kathy McAndrew Wallace is a small artisan producer who makes chutneys, relishes and pickles in her HSE-approved kitchen in Clonlara from home grown vegetables and fruit. Operating from Bramble Cottage, she is a finalist in the relish category for her spiced beetroot relish. Her business evolved out of growing her own vegetables and deciding to make beetroot relish, which is the product that has made it to the finals. She recalled people asked her to make beetroot relish for them, and, as one of the main founders of the Urban Coop in the Eastway Business Park. Limerick, she started selling it in this market. She also makes red onion marmalade, Thomond Red Ale chutney using the red ale …