Galway dairy farmer and artisan cheese producer, Teresa Roche, was crowned Best Artisan Dairy Cheese 2024 winner at the second National Dairy Awards on Thursday night in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.
Teresa Roche beat off stiff competition from Dayana Maltese (Galway ), Edward Lonergan (Waterford ) and Cooleeney Cheese (Tipperary ). Former minister and broadcaster, Ivan Yates served as MC for the night.
Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese is a unique, premium Irish farmhouse cheese produced directly on the family farm in Galway. The unique award-winning cheese is inspired from the Swiss Alps and is fully traceable and sustainable from farm to fork, Bord Bia – Origin Green approved. Judges said; “It was a superb cheese commenting that the dried wildflower rind is particularly pleasing, and for a retailer the visual impression of a round of this cheese would be most striking. The brand has impeccable credentials which follows through effortlessly with the quality of the raw milk being produced. On tasting, it is well balanced and with a beautiful array of flavours.”
On the night, 21 awards were presented celebrating the high achievers that continue to develop and strengthen the Irish dairy industry. Other noteworthy winners on the night included Mary Kinston, who brought home both the Grassland Agro Best Dairy Advisor of the year award and the AXA Overall National Dairy Award Winner, presented by Ivan Yates and Christy Doherty, AXA respectively. Professor Donagh Berry won the Agri Insider Dairy Leader of the year award on the night, which was presented by Jason Webb, Content Director, Agri Insider.
