2026 CAIS Irish Cheese Awards
The 2026 CAIS Irish Cheese Awards took place on Wednesday 23 September at Cloughjordan House, Co. Tipperary, bringing together Ireland’s farmhouse cheesemakers, supporters, food writers, judges and industry friends for a wonderful celebration of Irish farmhouse cheese.
The stunning weather and beautiful setting provided the perfect backdrop for the biennial awards, which proved to be an afternoon full of surprises and plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Congratulations to our 2026 award winners
Huge congratulations to all of this year’s deserving award winners, whose outstanding cheeses showcase the quality, diversity and craftsmanship of Ireland’s farmhouse cheesemakers. Very special congratulations to Gypsy Gifford, Richelle South and Lisa Gifford of Leitrim Hill Creamery, whose flagship raw milk goat cheese Cnoc Liatroma was named Supreme Champion 2026.
Entering the awards for only the second time, Leitrim Hill Creamery took home the top prize with Cnoc Liatroma, which impressed the judges with its chalky yet pillowy texture, lactic tang and distinctive citrusy and earthy notes. A thoroughly deserved and popular winner.
A year for goat cheese
2026 proved to be something of a year for goat cheese, with St. Tola Goat Cheese, Inagh, Co. Clare, taking home the award for Best New Cheese for its St. Tola Beag, as well as a Best In Class award for St. Tola Karst.
Killeen Farmhouse Cheese, Portumna, Co. Galway, also had a particularly successful awards day, taking home three Best In Class awards for its goat’s cheeses:
- Killeen Goat with Fenugreek
- Killeen Goat Mature
- Killeen Goat Extra Mature
Other cheesemakers picking up Best In Class awards included Coolattin Cheddar, Mike’s Fancy Cheese, Barbavilla Dairy, Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese and Dingle Farm.
Special Recognition Award
This year’s Special Recognition Award was presented to esteemed food writers John and Sally McKenna, in recognition of their longstanding support for and contribution to Ireland’s farmhouse cheesemakers. For more than four decades, John and Sally have championed Irish farmhouse cheese and helped bring the story of Ireland’s cheesemakers to a much wider audience. Their support of CÁIS and the farmhouse cheese sector has been hugely valued over the years, making this recognition particularly fitting.
Thank you
A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us at Cloughjordan House and helped make the 2026 CAIS Irish Cheese Awards such a memorable occasion. We are incredibly proud to celebrate the talent, dedication and diversity of Ireland’s farmhouse cheesemakers and to shine a light on the exceptional cheeses being produced across the country. Our thanks also go to our sponsors, judges, supporters and everyone involved in bringing the awards together.
Congratulations once again to all of our winners.
Download 2026 Winners
Sponsors
The Cáis Irish Cheese Awards are proudly supported by our sponsors, whose generous support helps us celebrate and promote Ireland’s farmhouse and artisan cheesemakers.
Sysco Ireland is a leading foodservice supplier, providing a wide range of fresh, frozen and ambient food products, beverages, catering equipment and related services to customers across Ireland. Serving restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and other hospitality businesses, the company combines an extensive product portfolio with reliable distribution and customer support. 
Founded in 1985 by Irish cheese industry pioneer Eugene Carr, Traditional Cheese Company (TCC) has played an important role in supporting Ireland’s farmhouse cheese movement. From working closely with small cheesemakers to bringing new products and markets to Ireland, TCC has built a long-standing reputation as a specialist cheese wholesaler and supporter of Irish cheese. 
Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board is the government agency responsible for the promotion and marketing of Irish food, drink and horticulture, both in Ireland and internationally. Through its network of international offices, Bord Bia supports the Irish food and drink industry through market insights, business development, buyer engagement and promotional activities. Bord Bia supports the continued development of Ireland’s farmhouse and speciality cheese sector, promoting its quality, diversity and provenance in domestic and international markets. 
Celebrating 50 years in business, Horgan’s Delicatessen Supplies is a 100% Irish-owned, family-operated business and one of Ireland’s leading speciality food distributors. With a long-standing connection to the Irish cheese sector, Horgan’s has built its reputation on sourcing quality cheeses and speciality foods, backed by personal service and strong partnerships with producers and customers across Ireland. 
La Rousse Foods is a 100% Irish-owned supplier of fine foods to chefs across all 32 counties. With a strong connection to Ireland’s artisan food and cheese sector, La Rousse combines specialist sourcing with its own cheese-maturing facilities, helping producers and chefs access exceptional cheeses and ingredients, supported by expert knowledge and a dedicated service. 
Founded in 1995 by brothers Kevin and Seamus Sheridan at Galway Market, Sheridans Cheesemongers began with a simple ambition – to bring great Irish farmhouse cheese to a wider audience. Built on close relationships with cheesemakers and farmers across Ireland, Sheridans has grown into a family-owned business with shops across Ireland and a growing international presence, while continuing to champion the craft, character and stories behind artisan cheese. 
Irish Cheese Direct is a co-operative of the most reputable and successful Irish Farmhouse cheese makers. 
The Artisan Cheese Awards supports micro to medium-size artisan cheesemakers in the UK and Ireland. Judged in mid May by a team of leading experts in the cheese sector. A feature of the Awards is that the original judging sheets are sent to the cheesemakers with comments on how to improve the cheese. Entries from Irish Cheesemakers are especially encouraged with the kind support of Sheridan’s. The Artisan Cheese Fair, is the UK’s largest cheese fair and is held at the end of May. The organiser is Dr Matthew O’Callaghan 
The Irish Raw Milk Cheese Presidium brings together Irish cheesemakers committed to protecting and promoting the tradition of raw milk cheese. Working together, its members champion the distinctive character, quality and heritage of raw milk cheeses made in Ireland.
2024 Irish Cheese Awards
Following a long but exciting day of judging more than 170 cheeses in Teagasc, Ashtown in late March by an expert panel of tasters from home and abroad, this year’s Irish Cheese Awards were presented at the beautiful Kilshane House, Co Tipperary on Wednesday 24th April at a daytime awards ceremony.
The Supreme Champion was awarded to Hegarty’s Cheese for their Alpine Style Raw Milk Hard Cheese for a second time in a row! Many new entrants picked up golds along with stalwarts retaining gold medals in the 17 categories.
Upon arrival to Kilshane House, guests were greeted with a welcome reception of Irish Farmhouse Cheeses, including previous Supreme Champion winners. We were delighted to welcome Bobby Kerr as MC for the event.
2024 Event
Following the main body of awards presentation in the beautiful and historic conservatory, guests moved through to the Orangerie, where Kilshane head chef Ralf Mahler and his team served a sumptuous barbeque lunch, featuring locally reared Tipperary pig on a spit, alongside other ingredients showcasing the best of Irish and local produce.
The final key awards New Cheese, Supreme Champion and Lifetime Achievement were presented after lunch. There was plenty of time for everyone to mingle and network throughout the day and lots of new and old connections were cemented as a result!
Cáis, along with the awards organisers, are very grateful to everyone whose work goes into making the Irish Cheese Awards such a success, particularly our sponsors whose generous support ensures an amazing event and publicity for the Irish Cheese Awards cheeses and cheesemakers. We hope you enjoy the awards ceremony, and have a wonderful day catching up with friends and colleagues and celebrating our amazing Irish cheeses. Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir!
For any queries please contact the awards organisers on
awards@irishcheese.ie
