2025 Award Winners - Thanks everyone!

We've just celebrated the fifth Irish Food Writing Awards and it was a standout year for both Cork and Belfast. Thanks so much to all the writers, photographers and content makers who entered. By taking part in this scheme we support and celebrate the community of people who work in food media in Ireland. If you didn't win an award, remember each year is a snapshot of that year's work. We also rotate judges which can alter the type of work that wins. 

Thank you to all our nineteen judges. They put a great deal of time and care into their decision making, and as busy journalists and writers themselves this is hugely appreciated. Our community of judges has resulted in great links and friendships between ourselves in Ireland and food writers in the UK, the US, Canada and France and proof that food connects everyone. Thanks again to judge Charlotte Pike for taking the trip over to Dublin once again.    

Congratulations to Cork which was strongly represented this year with three Irish Examiner contributors honoured. Michelle Darmody won the Writing on Sustainability in Irish Food Award for her book Seed to Supper. Caroline Hennessy was recognised for her work with both the Irish Examiner and the Irish Farmers Journal in the Writing on Irish Food Producers category. Aishling Moore received the Writing on Seafood Award for her contributions to the Irish Examiner. The Irish Examiner Weekend magazine was also named Irish Food Magazine or Supplement of the Year, securing a fourth major win for the publication.

Northern writers also enjoyed a significant night, with the Belfast Telegraph claiming three awards. Drinks columnist Gary Law won both the Wine Writing Award and the Spirits Writing Award, while food columnist John Mulgrew received the Cookery Writing Award. As an all island awards it was brilliant to see the growing strength of Northern Irish food and drink writing on the island’s media landscape.

Longstanding food and wine writer and editor Ernie Whalley won our Outstanding Achievement Award. Throughout 2025, Ernie was nominated to us by several journalists and food writers, many of whom credit him with giving them their start in food writing. Ernie began writing about wine in 1978 for a northern English newspaper, and after moving to Ireland in 1987 he wrote for the Sunday Independent and the Evening Herald among other titles. He continued to be a leading voice in Irish food and wine journalism while editor of Food and Wine magazine until finishing his long running column in the Sunday Times in 2019. It was wonderful to have Ernie there on awards night, he is regarded with great affection and his influence on writers and readers alike has made a lasting contribution to the field. 

Our awards dinner was was beautifully cooked and presented by the Gather & Gather team at the RDS, using produce from many of our sponsors such as Certified Irish Angus, Glenmar Seafood, Odaios Foods, Butlers Chocolates, Pestle + Mortar and Ballymaloe Foods. The beautiful wines served were chosen for our menu by David Whelehan and provided by Whelehans wines. We'd like to thank chef James Smith and all the team at the RDS and also The Merrion for hosting our after party.  

Without the lovely Irish food and drink businesses who sponsor us we wouldn't have an awards. We are very lucky to have the support of companies who recognise the important role played by independent media and journalism in the food sector, and they are all such lovely people as well! Huge thanks to Ballymaloe Foods, Begleys Fresh, Bord Bia, Butlers Chocolates, Certified Irish Angus, Coole Swan, Gather & Gather, Glenmar Seafood, Green Saffron, James Whelan Butchers, Kerrygold, Odaios Foods, Pestle + Mortar, Powerscourt Distillery, Rascals Brewing, Sharon Noonan, &Smyth Creative Communications and Whelehan’s Wines. 

Thank you so much everyone! Keep an eye on our socials for continuing news on food writing and Irish and of course entries opening for our 2026 awards. Have a lovely break over Christmas everyone x

2025 Award Winners

Irish Food or Drink Podcast

Judged by Nigel Barden, sponsored by Sharon Noonan

Winner: Food Matters by Mick Kelly, Grow It Yourself

Food Writing Award

Judged by Robb Walsh, sponsored by Bord Bia

Winner: Alex Meehan, Irish Independent

Food History and Heritage Award

Judged by Dr Neil Buttery, sponsored by Ballymaloe Foods

Winner: Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman for Irish Food History; a compendium

Writing on Irish Food Producers

Judged by Charlotte Pike, sponsored by Certified Irish Angus

Winner: Caroline Hennessy, Irish Examiner and Irish Farmers Journal

Writing on Seafood Award

Judged by Robb Walsh, sponsored by Glenmar Shellfish

Winner: Aishling Moore, Irish Examiner

Writing on Sustainability in Irish Food Award

Judged by Tom Hunt, sponsored by &Smyth Creative Communications

Winner: Michelle Darmody for Seed to Supper

Irish Food Magazine or Supplement

Judged by Felicity Cloake, sponsored by Butlers Chocolates

Winner: Irish Examiner Weekend

Cookbook of the Year

Judged by Colman Andrews, sponsored by Gather and Gather

Winner: The Old Spot Cook Book by Aoife Carrigy

Cookery Writing Award

Judged by Ed Smith, sponsored by Begleys Fresh

Winner: John Mulgrew, Belfast Telegraph

Wine Writing Award

Judged by Oz Clarke, sponsored by Whelehans Wines

Winner: Gary Law, Belfast Telegraph

Beer Writing Award

Judged by Richard Croasdale, sponsored by Rascals Brewing

Winner: Christina Wade for Filthy Queens

Spirits Writing Award

Judged by Tim Hayward, sponsored by Powerscourt Distillery

Winner: Gary Law, Belfast Telegraph

Culinary Student Award

Judged by Jess Murphy and Ed Cooney, sponsored by KerrygoldWinner: Vitalii Vakarchuk, Colaiste Ide, Finglas

Food Photography Award, Professional Category

Judged by Cris Barnett, sponsored by Odaois Foods

Winner: Ruth Calder-Potts

Food Photography Award, Amateur Category

Judged by Chris Barnett, sponsored by Odaois Foods

Winner: Rosie Horgan

Writing on International Cuisines

Judged by Romy Gill, sponsored by Green Saffron

Winner: Alex O’Neill, Image Magazine

Restaurant Critic AwardJudged by Mark Diacomo

Winner: Corinna Hardgrave, Irish Times Food

Irish Food Blog Award

Judged by Rebecca May Johnson, sponsored by Pestle and Mortar

Winner: Sian Conway

Investigative Writing Award

Judged by Dan Saladino

Winner: Patricia Devlin, The Journal Investigates

Emerging Voice in Irish Food Writing

Judged by Deborah Reid

Winner: Alex O’Neill, Image Magazine

Irish Food on Instagram or TikTok Award

Judged by Andy Clarke, sponsored by Coole Swan

Winner: Marcus O’Laoire

Outstanding Achievement in Food Writing Award

Sponsored by James Whelan Butchers

Winner: Ernie Whalley