Pictured left to right: Tom Walsh (Waterford Crystal) Jason Foody (General Manager), Darragh Dooley (Executive Head Chef)
Following a string of successes for Killeavy Castle Estate this year, we were delighted to be awarded with ‘Culinary Haven of the Year Special Award’, sponsored by Waterford at the recent Good Food Ireland Awards. An awards event that celebrates exceptional food and drink experiences on the island of Ireland.
Attended by Guest of Honour Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Culinary Haven of the Year category recognises an exceptional experience and a food and drink destination that epitomises culinary excellence, highlighting the very best of local Irish produce.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Killeavy Castle Estate team, our General Manager, Jason Foody and Executive Chef Darragh Dooley, was presented with the accolade.
The Good Food Ireland Awards celebrate a commitment to local Irish produce, and the awards aim to enhance linkages between agriculture and tourism and present significant opportunities for encouraging local production.
An independent panel of Irish and International leaders including Founder and Managing Director of Good Food Ireland, Margaret Jeffares, journalists John Wilson and Amii McKeever, IFAC Consultant, Stephanie Walsh and Executive Chairman and Owner of Odyssey International, Kevin Shannon, shortlisted and selected the winners following mystery inspections and assessments.
Honoured to accept the Culinary Haven of the Year Special Award, Jason Foody, General Manager of Killeavy Castle Estate adds: “This is yet another accolade that recognises the incredible quality of our food and drink offering at Killeavy Castle Estate. Under our Executive Head Chef, Darragh Dooley’s stewardship, combined with the Estate’s ongoing commitment to both growing and sourcing local produce, the passion of our team is shining through.
“We are truly delighted to have been acknowledged at The Good Food Ireland® Awards and are so proud of what the team has achieved in just four short years.”
In 2022, Killeavy Castle Estate’s restaurant was awarded two AA rosettes for ‘Culinary Excellence’, and this latest Good Food Ireland award comes hot on the heels of our housekeeping team being named as Housekeeping Team of the Year (Under 50 rooms) at the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) Housekeeping Awards in March 2023, demonstrating the entire Estate’s commitment to delivering excellence throughout the hotel.