Letter from the Chair

TRADITIONAL, BUT WITH A TWIST. MANY OF THE WINNERS OF OUR 2022 IRISH FOOD WRITERS’ GUILD AWARDS ARE TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS – BUT THEY HAVE ALSO VERY MUCH MOVED WITH THE TIMES.

Bread and cheese, mountain lamb, fresh fish and smoked salmon are all foods that have a long history in Ireland, but these award-winning producers are putting their own stamp on the products, making something unique, something of their place - and something delicious.

Our Irish Drink Award plays with the traditional Irish love of tea, taking a detour into kobucha fermentation. We Irish are also well known for our conversation and what better way to start a conversation about direct provision than over food with our Community Award winner, a project that highlights injustice while empowering participants to find employment and bring their own traditions into the Irish food world.

The recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award started smoke-curing local fish in the 1970s and has stuck to her principles of traditional and sustainable food production, working always and only with wild fish. She is now the wise fish woman of West Cork, sharing her knowledge with new generations of students and food lovers.

Good food comes from the land and the winners of our Environmental Award take this stewardship very seriously indeed with their focus on organic farming and sustainable travel in Slane. Indeed, this theme of sustainability runs through the work of all the award winners, from the organic wheat and ancient Irish grains that are used at a Dublin bakery to the transformation of milk into artisan cheese on a rural mountain family farm in Co. Galway, the multigenerational business that endeavours to ensure the future viability of sheep farming on Achill and the work of a Frenchman who has introduced Irish people to a large variety of locally caught fresh fish.

Once again, we would like to thank Bord Bia for their generous sponsorship. Their work in promoting and developing the Irish food industry goes hand in hand with what we do as food writers .

Una Fitzgibbon, Director of Marketing and Communications at Bord Bia, said: “The Food Writers’ Guild have once again chosen an impressive line-up of winners, representing a variety of sectors, for this year’s awards. The winners really encapsulate the artistry, diversity, and integrity of Irish food production and gastronomy. We are fortunate to have a rich and evolving food culture in Ireland and these awards play an important role in celebrating the people who drive this thriving industry, locally and nationally. Congratulations to all those involved in making these awards happen and, of course, to the deserving winners.”

For 2022 the IFWG has chosen eight Irish food and drink producers that take tradition and run with it, bringing delight and joy to our tables and we celebrate these people, our heroes, by eating their food.

Caroline Hennessy Chair, Irish Food Writers’ Guild