Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolattin Cheddar named the Supreme Champion at the Irish Cheese Awards 2015

36 Irish cheesemakers honoured at the inaugural Irish Cheese Awards Ceremony & Dinner in Ballymaloe House

Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolattin Chedder in Co Carlow has been named the Supreme Champion at The Irish Cheese Awards 2015. The results were announced at the inaugural Irish Cheese Awards Ceremony & Dinner in The Grainstore, Ballymaloe House, Co Cork. 36 Irish cheesemakers were awarded at the most prestigious awards in the Irish cheese industry calendar. The Irish Cheese Awards is the only competition dedicated entirely to Irish cheese. 145 cheeses from 29 companies from all over Ireland were judged in 12 classes by a panel of experts.

For the first time at the Irish Cheese Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to cheese maker Veronica Steele from Milleen’s Cheese, for her outstanding contribution to the farmhouse cheese industry. Veronica and her husband Norman began producing cheese in 1976 in West Cork and she is regarded as one of Ireland’s first farmhouse cheese producers. Veronica was a pioneer in the farmhouse cheese revolution and found herself mentoring and tutoring other aspiring cheese makers.

The other big winners on the night were the Joint Reserve Champions. From all the gold medal winners Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolalttin Cheddar from Carlow also won the best cow’s milk cheese, while Ardsallagh Cranberry by Ardsallagh Goat Products from Cork won best goat’s milk cheese and Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella by Macroom Buffalo Cheese from Cork won best other milk cheese.

Download the 2015-Irish-Cheese-Awards-WINNERS

Over 145 cheese products entered the competition, but Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolattin Cheddar from Co Carlow ended up the overall winner in the eyes of the judging panel. The panel of judges on the night included Bruce MacDonald, The Guild of Cheese Grades UK, Eddie O’Neill, Teagasc Moorepark, Kevin Sheridan, Sheridans Cheesemongers, Roland Barthélemy, International Guilde of Fromagers, Clem Rowcliffe, Rowcliffes UK, Peter Ward, Country Choice, Isabelle Sheridan, On the Pigs Back, Rory O’Connell, Ballymaloe, Jess Murphy, Kai Galway, and Owen Bailey, Neals Yard Dairy.