The accolades keep on coming for Kilkenny’s Mountain View and the O’Neill family in Ballyhale with this year’s Good Food Ireland awards deeming them Food Innovator of the Year.
With the awards ceremony held in Dublin yesterday, the win follows news of their takeover of Petronella Restaurant in Kilkenny city and the launch of their Christmas markets with a nighttime event on 23 November.
Per the shortlist announcement in October, the Food Innovator of the Year “is a person with a unique ability to think outside the box who develops new and innovative food products, concepts or techniques. They are willing to try new ingredients, techniques and flavour combinations, adapting to changing trends and preferences while maintaining their own unique style. They are often at the forefront of culinary trends, creating unique and exciting dining experiences.”
In this case, it’s ‘persons’ with the O’Neill family taking the top awards, staving off competition from JP McMahon (Aniar, Galway), Alastair Bell (Irish Black Butter), Paul Cunningham (Scoper’s Dundrum, Down) and Esperanza Hernandez (The Old Roots Winery, Wexford).
What was originally a family farm, Mountain View started its journey of innovation over 25 years ago when it evolved from a farm to a golf course, and then to a restaurant and wedding venue, glamping and vibrant food and craft market.
In 2018 the O’Neill family opened the doors to their first wedding and first diners at the restaurant, but not long after, in 2020 it shut due to the lockdown regulations. With no income, they had to innovate once again. In a time when the only things to do were to shop and spend time outdoors, they opened a food and craft market.
The market has fostered a supportive community for small businesses, providing a cost-effective platform to reach a broad audience. Between food, craft and arts, the market
Kilkenny’s O’Shea Farms were also in consideration for awards this year as finalists in the Dairy Producer of the Year, Sustainability Award and Fruit & Veg Producer of the Year categories.
2024 Good Food Ireland Awards Winners
The K Club in Kildare played host to a packed awards event on Monday, complete with a five-course gala dinner designed by chef Gary O’Hanlon (who also picked up Podcast of the Year at the Irish Food Writing Awards last week).
Among the key award winners were Peter Caviston of Caviston of Caviston’s Seafood Restaurant and Food Emporium in Glasthule (Dublin), who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award; Anthony Creswell of Ummera Smoked Products in Cork who was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Food Production; Kellly’s of Newport (Mayo) collected The Good Food Ireland Overall Producer of the Year title while Monaghan’s Castle Leslie Estate took the overall Supreme Award of the Year.
Tourism & Hospitality Awards
- 5* Hotel of the Year: The Merrion, Dublin
- Culinary Haven of the Year: Castle Leslie Estate, Monaghan
- 4* Hotel of the Year: Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa, Wexford
- Restaurant of the Year: An Port Mór, Mayo
- Hotel Restaurant of the Year: Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins, Anantara The Marker Dublin
- Café of the Year: The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware, Kildare
- Pub of the Year: The Lifeboat Inn, Cork
- Shop of the Year: Brogan’s Butchers, Meath
Sustainability Awards
- Agri-Food Winner: Brook Hall Estate, Derry
- Tourism Hospitality Winner: Grow HQ, Waterford
Producer Awards
- Meat Producer of the Year: Kelly’s of Newport, Mayo
- Fruit & Vegetable Producer of the Year: Kearns Fruit Farm, Wexford
- Fish & Seafood Producer of the Year: Réalt na Mara Shellfish, Kerry
- Drinks Producer of the Year: Long Meadow Cider, Armagh
- Dairy Producer of the Year: Freezin’ Friesian, Waterford
- Sweet & Savoury Producer of the Year: Leahy Beekeeping, Galway
- Bakery & Chocolate Producer of the Year: The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, Carlow
Overall Awards
- Overall Producer of the Year: Kelly’s of Newport, Mayo
- Food Innovator of the Year: The O’Neill Family, Mountain View, Kilkenny
- Excellence in Food Tourism Award: Burren Smokehouse & Visitor Centre, Clare
- Outstanding Contribution to Food Production: Anthony Creswell, Ummera Smoked Products, Cork
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Caviston, Caviston’s Restaurant & Food Emporium, Dublin
- Supreme Award of the Year: Castle Leslie Estate, Monaghan
Food Lovers Choice Award
- Wild Atlantic Way Winner: Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Limerick
- Ireland’s Ancient East Winner: The Glenroyal Hotel, Kildare
- Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Winner: Kilronan Castle Estate, Roscommon
- Dublin Winner: Corrigan’s Butchers Drumcondra, Dublin
- Northern Ireland Winner: Culloden Estate & Spa, Down
