Kildare businesses triumph at Good Food Ireland Awards 2025

Two County Kildare food and drink businesses have been acknowledged as winners at the Good Food Ireland® Awards 2025 in association with FBD Insurance - the only cross-sector awards that champion those who uphold Ireland’s culinary excellence, celebrate local provenance and honour sustainable practices.

Announced at the awards ceremony at The K Club in Co Kildare on Monday, November 10 2025, Kildare businesses took centre stage, winning some of the top accolades of the night.

The Dew Drop Brewhouse in Kill was named as Drinks Producer of the Year and The Barton Rooms Barberstown Castle in Straffan was awarded Hotel Restaurant of the Year.

Ahead of its 20th year in 2026, this year’s Good Food Ireland® Awards received hundreds of entries from businesses across the country, with thousands of votes cast for the Food Lovers' Choice Awards.

READ NEXT: Kildare residents are being urged to get out of their cars

Winners were selected by an independent panel of Irish and international experts following mystery inspections and detailed assessments, with strict judging criteria including commitment to local sourcing, Irish provenance, and sustainability.

Minister Noel Grealish was the guest of honour at the event, acknowledging everyone’s contribution to Irish food, drink and hospitality.

Commenting on the event, Minister Noel Grealish, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, said: “I was delighted to attend the Good Food Ireland Awards, which brings together two of Ireland’s most successful indigenous sectors – food and tourism. 

“At their heart, the Good Food Ireland Awards honour excellence, and reflect the values and vision embedded in Food Vision 2030, our national strategy for sustainable agri-food development, that have made Irish food a global benchmark for quality and sustainability.”

Reflecting on the event and congratulating the winners, Margaret Jeffares, Founder of Good Food Ireland® added: “Good Food Ireland® was born from a desire to celebrate Ireland’s world-class food and drink. Our awards shine a spotlight on the businesses that play a vital role in our entire food ecosystem, from farm to fork.”

This year’s finalists spanned the full breadth of the island and guests from every corner of Ireland gathered on Monday 10th November to celebrate the very best in Irish food, drink and hospitality. On the night the Supreme Award went to Fish City in Belfast.

Other big winners included Ashford Castle - named as 5 Star Hotel of the Year, Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream from Co. Clare - named as Overall Producer of the Year and Veronica Molloy from Tipperary’s Crossogue Preserves who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Awards Official Sponsor, FBD Insurance, has been supporting Farming, Food and Hospitality businesses across Ireland for over 50 years.

In its third year of sponsorship, John Cahalan, Chief Commercial Officer, FBD Insurance, adds: “The theme of the Good Food Ireland® Awards 2025 was ‘Rooted in Taste, Backed by Trust’, which resonates with us as a business. Trust is earned and the winners from this year’s Good Food Ireland® awards have earned their place as trusted businesses who deliver exceptional products and service day in, day out.

“From field to fork, there are so many exceptional businesses across the Island as demonstrated by our extensive list of finalists, but on this occasion, I’m delighted to congratulate The Dew Drop Brewhouse and The Barton Rooms, Barberstown Castle for their award wins. Each winner should feel enormously proud to be recognised as one of the best in Ireland.”

Other key sponsors of the awards include AIB, Wine Consultants Ireland, Waterford and Tourism Ireland, Guinness Storehouse, and All Fresh among others, whose support is important in celebrating excellence across Ireland’s vibrant food and tourism sectors.

For further information, please visit www.goodfoodireland.ie