Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolattin Cheddar in Co Carlow has been named the Supreme Champion at The Irish Cheese Awards 2015. The results were announced at the inaugural Irish Cheese Awards Ceremony & Dinner which took place last night in The Grainstore, Ballymaloe House, Co Cork. 36 Irish cheese makers were awarded at the most prestigious awards in the Irish cheese industry calendar. The Irish Cheese Awards is the only competition dedicated entirely to Irish cheese. 145 cheeses from 29 companies from all over Ireland were judged in 12 classes by a panel of experts.
For the first time at the Irish Cheese Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to cheese maker Veronica Steele from Milleen’s Cheese, for her outstanding contribution to the farmhouse cheese industry. Veronica and her husband Norman began producing cheese in 1976 in West Cork and she is regarded as one of Ireland’s first farmhouse cheese producers. Veronica was a pioneer in the farmhouse cheese revolution and found herself mentoring and tutoring other aspiring cheese makers.
The other big winners on the night were the Joint Reserve Champions. From all the gold medal winners Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolattin Cheddar from Carlow also won the best cow’s milk cheese, while Ardsallagh Cranberry by Ardsallagh Goat Products from Cork won best goat’s milk cheese and Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella by Macroom Buffalo Cheese from Cork won best other milk cheese.
The full list of winners on the night:
| WINNER | CLASS NO | AWARD CATEGORY |
| Wexford Cheddar – Mild & Creamy, Glanbia Consumer Foods | CLASS 1 | CREAMERY MILD CHEDDAR AGED UP TO 6 MONTHS |
| Wexford Cheddar – Rich & Mature, Glanbia Consumer Foods | CLASS 2 | CREAMERY MATURE CHEDDAR AGED 6 PLUS |
| Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella, Macroom Buffalo Cheese | CLASS 3 | SOFT, FRESH CHEESE, ALL MILKS |
| Ardsallagh Cranberry, Ardsallagh Goat Products | CLASS 4 | SOFT, FRESH CHEESE, FLAVOUR ADDED, ALL MILKS |
| Wicklow Bán, Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese | CLASS 5 | WHITE RINDED CHEESE, ALL MILKS |
| Kilree, Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese | CLASS 6 | WASHED RIND CHEESE, ALL MILKS |
| Young Buck, Mike’s Fancy Cheese | CLASS 7 | BLUE CHEESE, ALL MILKS |
| St.Gall, Fermoy Natural Cheese | CLASS 8 | PRESSED CHEESE, UP TO 3 MONTHS, ALL MILKS |
| Coolea Matured, Coolea Cheese | CLASS 9 | PRESSED CHEESE, AGED 3 MONTHS PLUS, ALL MILKS |
| St. Brigid with Herbs, Fermoy Natural Cheese | CLASS 10 | PRESSED CHEESE, FLAVOUR ADDED, ALL MILKS |
| Smoked Mini, Durrus Cheese | CLASS 11 | SMOKED CHEESE, ALL MILKS |
| Mount Leinster Clothbound, Coolattin Cheddar | CLASS 12 | BEST NEW CHEESE IN LAST 12 MTHS, ALL MILKS |
Over 145 cheese products entered the competition, but Mount Leinster Clothbound by Coolattin Cheddar from Co Carlow ended up the overall winner in the eyes of the judging panel. The panel of judges on the night included Bruce MacDonald, The Guild of Cheese Grades UK, Eddie O’Neill, Teagasc Moorepark, Kevin Sheridan, Sheridans Cheesemongers, Roland Barthélemy, International Guilde of Fromagers, Clem Rowcliffe, Rowcliffes UK, Peter Ward, Country Choice, Isabelle Sheridan, On the Pigs Back, Rory O’Connell, Ballymaloe, Jess Murphy, Kai Galway, and Owen Bailey, Neals Yard Dairy.
For further information please visit http://www.irishcheese.ie/
