Good Food awards for Cork businesses

Two Cork businesses have picked up prestigious prizes at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2025.

Ballymaloe House Hotel in East Cork was named Culinary Haven of the Year, while The The Church Restaurant in Skibbereen was named joint winner of The Restaurant of the Year accolade alongside The Lemon Tree in Letterkenny.

The Good Food Ireland Awards celebrate the best in food, drink and hospitality from across the entire island of Ireland.

The 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.

Margaret Jeffares, founder of Good Food Ireland, said that the awards shine a spotlight on the businesses that play a crucial role in the Irish hospitality sector.

“Cork has been at the forefront of Ireland’s food and tourism landscape for decades, and this year’s theme — Rooted in Taste, Backed by Trust — feels especially fitting.

“Many of the original businesses who joined the Good Food Ireland Collection at our founding in 2006 came from Cork, and it is a testament to their commitment to quality that they remain part of the collection nearly 20 years later,” said Ms Jeffares

“To see two award winners from across the island of Ireland hail from Cork is an incredible achievement and further reinforces Cork’s position as one of the country’s leading food tourism destinations.”

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and the Marine Noel Grealish, who was the guest of honour at awards in the K Club, acknowledged the contribution of the award winners and nominees to the Irish food, drink and hospitality industry.

Among the other big award winners on the night were Ashford Castle, which was named 5 Star Hotel of the Year.

Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream from Co. Clare was named as Overall Producer of the Year and Veronica Molloy from Tipperary’s Crossogue Preserves received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

On the night the Supreme Award went to Fish City in Belfast.