Irish drinks businesses triumph at Good Food Ireland Awards 2025
Cashel Palace Hotel and The Dew Drop Brewhouse have secured top honours at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2025, in association with FBD Insurance.
The Dew Drop Brewhouse, winners of Drinks Producer of the Year, sponsored by FBD Insurance. (L–R) Noel Grealish, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine; Paul Lenehan, Dean Maguire and Ronan Kinsella, The Dew Drop Brewhouse; and John Reade, FBD Insurance
The awards remain the only cross-sector accolades dedicated to recognising businesses that champion Ireland’s culinary excellence, celebrate local provenance, and uphold sustainable practices.
At a prestigious ceremony held at The K Club, Co. Kildare, on Monday, 10 November, Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary claimed the title of Wine List of the Year, while The Dew Drop Brewhouse in Kildare was crowned Drinks Producer of the Year.
Both businesses received national recognition for their outstanding contributions across the food, drink, and hospitality sectors.
As Good Food Ireland approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, this year’s awards saw an impressive response, with hundreds of entries submitted from across the country and thousands of public votes cast for the Food Lovers’ Choice Awards.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of Irish and international experts following mystery inspections and detailed assessments, with strict judging criteria including commitment to local sourcing, Irish provenance, and sustainability.
Minister Noel Grealish was the guest of honour at the event, acknowledging everyone’s contribution to Irish food, drink and hospitality.
Commenting on the event, Minister Noel Grealish, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, said: “I was delighted to attend the Good Food Ireland Awards, which brings together two of Ireland’s most successful indigenous sectors – food and tourism.
“At their heart, the Good Food Ireland Awards honour excellence, and reflect the values and vision embedded in Food Vision 2030, our national strategy for sustainable agri-food development, that have made Irish food a global benchmark for quality and sustainability.”
Reflecting on the event and congratulating the winners, Margaret Jeffares, founder of Good Food Ireland adds: “Good Food Ireland was born from a desire to celebrate Ireland’s world-class food and drink.
“Our awards shine a spotlight on the businesses that play a vital role in our entire food ecosystem, from farm to fork.”
This year’s finalists spanned the full breadth of the island and guests from every corner of Ireland gathered on Monday 10 November to celebrate the very best in Irish food, drink and hospitality.
On the night the Supreme Award went to Fish City in Belfast. Other big winners included Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream from Co. Clare – named as Overall Producer of the Year and Veronica Molloy from Tipperary’s Crossogue Preserves who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Awards Official Sponsor, FBD Insurance, has been supporting Farming, Food and Hospitality businesses across Ireland for over 50 years.
In its third year of sponsorship, John Cahalan, chief commercial officer, FBD Insurance adds: “The theme of the Good Food Ireland Awards 2025 was ‘Rooted in Taste, Backed by Trust’, which resonates with us as a business.
“Trust is earned and the winners from this year’s Good Food Ireland awards have earned their place as trusted businesses who deliver exceptional products and service day in, day out.
“From field to fork, there are so many exceptional businesses across the Island as demonstrated by our extensive list of finalists, but on this occasion,
“I’m delighted to congratulate Ashford Castle for its award win.
“Each winner should feel enormously proud to be recognised as one of the best in Ireland.”
Other key sponsors of the awards include AIB, Wine Consultants Ireland, Waterford and Tourism Ireland, Guinness Storehouse, and All Fresh among others, whose support is important in celebrating excellence across Ireland’s vibrant food and tourism sectors.
For further information, please visit www.goodfoodireland.ie.
