Mayo cheesemaker wins ‘Best New Cheese’ at Irish Cheese Awards

Mayo Farmhouse Cheesemaker, Velvet Cloud, was crowned ‘Best New Cheese’ at the 2024 Irish Cheese Awards.

The Claremorris cheesemaker was honoured at a prestigious ceremony hosted by CÁIS, the Association of Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers, at Kilshane House in Tipperary.

Velvet Cloud’s ‘Cloonbook’ cheese fought off stiff competition from across the country to take home the title of ‘Best New Cheese’. 

Produced in Claremorris by husband and wife team Michael and Aisling Flanagan on their farm, they are best known for their sheep’s milk yogurts and cheeses.

‘Cloonbook’ is a semi-hard mild and deliciously creamy limited edition cow’s milk cheese with milky, buttery undertones, that is matured for a minimum of ten weeks.

It is made in small batches using fresh creamy milk from Mr Flanagan’s uncle’s farm in the townland of Cloonbook, where he spent much of his childhood.

These days the farm, which has been in the Waldron family for generations, where Mr Flanagan’s mother, Mary, was born and raised, is run by his cousin, Domhnall.

The fond memories and deep-rooted family history are the reasons why the Flanagan's decided that ‘Cloonbook’ was a fitting name for their cheese, which they launched in 2022.

The biennial celebration of Ireland’s farmhouse cheesemakers, now in its tenth year, named winners across seventeen distinct categories, culminating in naming one winner as this year’s ‘Supreme Champion’. 

This followed a rigorous judging process that was undertaken by a high calibre panel of Irish and international cheese experts at Teagasc’s Ashtown Food Research Centre last month.

Speaking about how the Irish Cheese Awards positively affect the long-term future and success of Irish Farmhouse Cheesemaking, Chair of CÁIS, Tom Dineen, said celebrating excellence at the awards ‘honours our rich heritage’ and ‘propels us towards a vibrant future’. 

“By acknowledging and commending the dedication of individual cheesemakers, these awards ignite innovation, enhance standards, and nurture a thriving community of Irish cheesemakers. Together, we are forging a legacy of quality and sustainability, securing the lasting success of Irish farmhouse cheese making for generations to come,” he added.

Velvet Cloud’s award-winning cheese is available to purchase online via their website, and from leading retailers and independent food stores throughout the island of Ireland.

The full list of this year’s winners covering all Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards is available to view online via the CÁIS website.