THE JUDGES
GILLIAN NELIS, chair
Gillian is managing editor of the Business Post Media Group. She has more than 25 years of experience in journalism, and has worked across news, features, property, lifestyle and more. She is the editor of the Business Post’s Life&Luxury supplement, and has been reviewing restaurants for almost a decade.
TRUDY FEENANE
A lifestyle and features reporter with the Business Post, Trudy writes about fashion, travel, food and more, and specialises in interviews.
MICK O’CONNELL
Mick is one of eight Irish Masters of Wine and one of just 400 worldwide. A weekly wine contributor to the Business Post, he is also head of wine for the UK and continental Europe at Bonhams in London.
AOIFE CARRIGY
Aoife is a freelance journalist, editor and cookbook co-author. Building on years of front-of-house experience in hospitality, she has written restaurant review columns for several publications and is an assessor for Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Guide.
A former deputy editor of Food&Wine magazine, Aoife is a regular contributor to various national newspapers and magazines including the Irish Independent, where she writes a weekly wine and drinks column.
A former deputy editor of Food&Wine magazine, Aoife is a regular contributor to various national newspapers and magazines including the Irish Independent, where she writes a weekly wine and drinks column.
JOANNE CRONIN
Joanne has blogged about Irish food & drink for 13 years, originally on her blog Stitch & Bear, and more recently on Instagram as @joanne.cronin. She has contributed articles on Irish restaurants and venues to both print and online magazines, and is a strong supporter of Irish produce and creators. A passionate and informed industry amateur, Joanne’s day job is in technology consulting.
OISIN DAVIS
From bouncer to brand owner, Oisin Davis has had a few different job titles in the hospitality and drinks industry. His 25 years of experience has stood him well though with his company Great Irish Beverages, an agency dedicated to promoting and publicising Irish made drinks. He’s travelled the world representing many of Ireland’s most loved drinks brands and back home in Dublin, he’s run nationwide drinks festivals, won awards for his spirits writing for Food&Wine and is a best selling author of his debut book, “Irish Kitchen Cocktails”.
CATHAL MCBRIDE
Based in Galway, Cathal is a food and wine writer with a passion for all types of gastronomy, wine and spirits. A regular contributor to publications including the Business Post, he delves into his years of experience, offering an insight into pairing wine with food while attempting to break down the barriers of accessibility so that everyone can enjoy the wonders of the wine world.
BAIRBRE POWER
As one of Ireland’s most experienced lifestyle and culture journalists, Bairbre Power has covered key developments in Ireland’s hospitality, arts, fashion and style industries. A former staff member at Mediahuis, owners of the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent, Bairbre is now a freelance journalist writing for publications including the Business Post. She is also a regular MC and judge at high-profile events both at home and abroad.
JULIE O’NEILL
Julie is an experienced independent non-executive director and strategic management consultant who has worked across the public, private and not
for profit sectors to promote sustainable business growth in Ireland. In a career that spanned 37 years in the Irish public service, Julie worked across eight government departments culminating in a seven year term as secretary general of the Department of Transport from 2002 to 2009. Her keen interest in the tourism and hospitality sector stems from her time as Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Tourism at the Department of Tourism, Sport & Recreation. She enjoys cooking and eating out and is passionate about high standards in Irish restaurants. She holds an MSc in Policy Analysis from Trinity College Dublin and a B. Comm from University College Dublin.
for profit sectors to promote sustainable business growth in Ireland. In a career that spanned 37 years in the Irish public service, Julie worked across eight government departments culminating in a seven year term as secretary general of the Department of Transport from 2002 to 2009. Her keen interest in the tourism and hospitality sector stems from her time as Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Tourism at the Department of Tourism, Sport & Recreation. She enjoys cooking and eating out and is passionate about high standards in Irish restaurants. She holds an MSc in Policy Analysis from Trinity College Dublin and a B. Comm from University College Dublin.
JORIS MINNE
Joris has been writing the weekly restaurant and eating out column in the Belfast Telegraph since 2008, having first written about food and hospitality as a stringer covering Ireland for Matthew Fort, then food editor for the Guardian. He originally trained for two years as a journalist at National Geographic in Washington DC and worked as an industrial correspondent in London and then Madrid for three years before becoming a PR consultant in Belfast where he is chairman of award-winning agency, Jcomms.
CORINNA HARDGRAVE
Corinna Hardgrave is the restaurant critic with The Irish Times, and a food, wine and travel writer.
ALI DUNWORTH
Ali Dunworth is a food writer, consultant and events organiser, with a long track record of involvement with some of the country’s most successful food and drinks festivals
KATE RYAN
Kate Ryan is an award-winner food writer and the founder of Flavour.ie, a platform dedicated to promoting Irish food. She is the 2023 Blas na hEireann Irish Food Producers’ Champion, a member and current treasurer of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild, a judge for Blas na hEireann, the Irish Quality Food Awards and the National Dairy Awards, and a graduate of UCC’s postgraduate diploma in Irish food culture.
Kate is a food features writer for The Echo and The Irish Examiner newspapers, and her articles have also featured on the BBC, Vittles, The Irish Times and many more.
MARCUS O’LAOIRE
Marcus O’Laoire is a well known figure in today’s hospitality landscape, a true lover of food, wine and the people that make Ireland’s restaurant and bar scene special. Marcus is an internationally touring DJ and MC, as well as having a deep knowledge of all things delicious and what it takes to get them from their origins to your fork.
Marie Claire Digby
Marie Claire Digby has been a journalist for more than 40 years. She was senior food writer at The Irish Times, where she also edited the newspaper’s Food & Drink Magazines. She is now a freelance writer specialising in food and travel.
