Double delight for Armagh’s creamy cheesemaker at national quality awards
FoodNI member Ballylisk Cheese in Portadown has won two major awards for its
creamy Triple Rose cheese in as many days!
The family business gained a unique Artisan Cheese Award, one of the most
important in the UK and Ireland, and then, a day later, the highly influential Euro-
Toques Ireland Dairy Award for the unique cheese.
The company hand crafts a triple cream and other soft cheese that have won a host
of awards for its quality and outstanding taste. These include a three-star UK Great
Taste and Blas na hEireann awards
Using exceptionally creamy milk from a single pedigree grass-fed Holstein herd on
the Wright family farm just outside Tandragee, Ballylisk was the winner in the fiercely
competitive Farmhouse Cheese category in the Artisan Cheese Awards that
attracted entries from across the British Isles. Ballylisk gained several other medals
for its quality cheese at the showcase.
The awards were an integral part of the Cheese Festival held at Melton Mowbray in
Leicestershire, a town, long famous for its pork pies and known as Britain’s ‘Rural
Capital of Food’.
Euro-Toques celebrate Ireland’s culinary heritage and is a community of chefs and
cooks supporting small and artisan food producers and sourcing the best quality
ingredients available locally and in season.
Mark Wright, Ballylisk’s chief executive, was understandably delighted to have won
the two prestigious awards. “It’s fantastic and such a tremendous boost from expert
judges for our small cheese business in two of our most important markets.
“Winning these highly influential awards will also strengthen awareness of our unique
cheese across Britain and Ireland among retailers, wholesalers, chefs and
restaurateurs in our most important markets,” adds Mark.
The company, now one of Ireland’s leading cheese producers, recently secured
business with Marks and Spencer on the island of Ireland and expects to be listed by
the high-end retailer in Britain soon.
Ballylisk, which was formed in 2017, also showcased its Triple Rose at the weekend
Artisan Cheese Fair, the largest of its type in the UK..
