Cork food writer Kate Ryan wins prestigious book award 

Cork writer, Kate Ryan, has been announced as the recipient of the 2026 Listowel Food Fair Food Book of the Year Award.

The event, now in its 31st year, will take place from November 5 to November 9 in North Kerry, where Ms Ryan, author of Blood, Guts and Black Pudding – Ireland’s Dying Art of Blood as Food, will be presented with the award.

Speaking on behalf of the Listowel Food Fair, Jimmy Deenihan said almost all of the most successful food writers in Ireland have received the Listowel Food Fair Food Book of the Year Award over the years.

Mr Deenihan said Kate’s book is based on Ireland’s dying art of blood and food which is a longstanding North Kerry tradition and will resonate with the older population in particular.

Speaking about the adjudication process, Jeremy Murphy said Ms Ryan’s book “excelled” across all of the judging criteria.

“We were particularly impressed by Kate’s research and her ability to bring a fascinating, but often overlooked, aspect of Ireland’s food heritage to life in such an engaging and accessible way.”