Eunice Power named All-Ireland Local Food Hero at Irish Restaurant Awards
Eunice Power being presented with the award for All-Ireland Local Food Hero at the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards
Eunice Power has been named the All-Ireland Local Food Hero at the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards, in recognition of her wide-ranging contribution to Ireland’s food culture, hospitality sector and regional tourism.
The national award was presented at the Irish Restaurant Awards ceremony in Dublin, where more than 1,000 hospitality professionals gathered to celebrate excellence across the industry. Eunice first received the Munster Local Food Hero title before going on to secure the overall All-Ireland honour.
Waterford Festival of Food
A chef, food writer, broadcaster and entrepreneur, Eunice Power is one of the country’s most recognisable voices in Irish food. Alongside her role as CEO of Waterford Festival of Food, she is a regular contributor on RTÉ’s Today show, writes for national publications, recently released her cookbook My Irish Kitchen Table, runs award-winning Dungarvan fish and chip restaurant AndChips, and operates a successful catering and events business.
Through her work across media, hospitality, events and tourism, she has become a leading advocate for local producers, seasonal Irish food and the importance of regional food culture.
Under Eunice’s leadership, Waterford Festival of Food has grown into one of Ireland’s most respected and community-focused food festivals. The 2026 edition attracted an estimated 80,000 visitors and delivered more than 150 events across Waterford City, Dungarvan and the wider county.
Over nearly two decades, the festival has become known not only for showcasing exceptional food and hospitality, but for creating meaningful connections between visitors, producers, landscapes and communities.
Anita Geoghegan, chairperson of the Board of Waterford Festival of Food, said the award reflects the enormous impact Eunice has had across the wider Irish food landscape as well as within Waterford itself. “Eunice has been a driving force not only behind the success of Waterford Festival of Food, but behind the growing recognition of Waterford and Ireland as places of real food culture, creativity and hospitality. She has an incredible ability to inspire and bring people together and to champion producers and create and organise experiences that are genuine and welcoming. This award is hugely deserved and everyone involved with the festival is enormously proud to see her recognised on a national stage.”
