The Dubs like to think they’re the centre of the culinary universe.

But every now and then, they have to tip their hats to the real foodies down south. At the 2026 Irish Cheese Awards, the Rebel County completely ran away with the show, taking home a whopping eleven awards – more than any other county on the island.

The biennial ceremony, hosted by CÁIS (the Association of Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers) at Cloughjordan House in Co. Tipperary, saw 150 cheeses from thirty producers blindly judged on everything from aroma to texture.

And off the back of that blind tasting, the verdict is in: Cork is officially running the artisanal cheese game.

Dan Hegarty (left) of Hegarty’s Cheese being presented with a Best In Class award from Traditional Cheese Company’s Derek Cahill.

If you’re looking to upgrade your next charcuterie board to elite status, here are the six Cork powerhouse cheesemakers you need on your radar right now:

1. Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese
The legends down in Schull proved once again why they’re royalty. Their classic Washed Rind Gubbeen scooped Best In Class in the Washed Rind (Semi Soft) category, while their Extra Mature Smoked Gubbeen snagged a Silver in the Smoked Cheese category.

2. Durrus Cheese
Durrus practically had to bring a second boot to fit all their silverware. They dominated the Washed Rind category with a Gold for Durrus Óg and a Silver for their original Durrus, before adding a Bronze in the Smoked Cheese category for Smoked Durrus.

3. Coolea Farmhouse Cheese
If you prefer a hard cheese with serious depth, Coolea took home the Gold in the Mature Hard Cheese category for their standout Coolea Matured. Expect this one to ruin generic supermarket cheddar for you forever.

4. Carrigaline Farmhouse Cheese
Carrigaline proved they are the absolute masters of crowd-pleasers. They walked away with a Bronze for their Carrigaline Beech Smoked Cheese, along with two more Bronzes in the Flavour Added category for their Garlic & Herb and Cranberry cheeses.

5. Bó Rua Farm
A massive shoutout to the Bó Rua team, who locked down a Bronze award in the competitive Hard/Semi Hard Cheese Under 6 Months category for their delicious Bó Rua Farm Original, handcrafted in small batches on the Dinneen’s family farm in Ballynoe.

6. The Lost Valley Dairy & Creamery
Rounding out the stellar Cork lineup, The Lost Valley Dairy & Creamery earned themselves a well-deserved Bronze in the Hard/Semi Hard Cheese Under 6 Months category for their Sobhriste cheese. Mike and Darcie run their small farm outside Inchigeelagh with their children Ned and Rosa.

A quick special mention also goes to West Cork local legends John & Sally McKenna of McKenna’s Guides, who picked up a Special Recognition Award for their relentless support of Irish farmhouse cheesemakers over the years.

All of these award-winners are available in leading retailers and independent food stores across Ireland right now. So pretend you’ve been buying them for years and claim all the credit at your next dinner party.

Main image: Lost Valley Dairy