Georgina Campbell Awards 2011

We got an email from Georgina Campbell Guides a couple of weeks ago inviting us to attend their 2011 Awards event at Bord Bia's Headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday 12 October. Being slightly innocent and because Christopher was going to be away and Helen would be holding the fort on her own, we emailed back and said we were really sorry but we wouldn't be able to make it! They replied that they completely understood, but it might be in our interest if we could arrange for somebody to be there! Suitably intrigued, and wondering what on earth was going on Helen agreed to go.

And so it was, on Tuesday morning, armed with Morag, Helen set forth for Dublin!

We were absolutely thrilled to be presented with not one but two awards!

Irish Breakfast Award (FarmHouse Category) and Farmhouse of the Year 2011. click on the links to read the citations

Helen being presented with the Farmhouse of the Year Award by Georgina Campbell

Georgina Campbell:

Georgina Campbell is one of Ireland’s leading food and hospitality writers. Her practical and down-to-earth approach has earned many fans for her cookery columns and cookbooks, and the same honesty has applied to her comprehensive and critically acclaimed, independently assessed guides to Ireland’s best places to eat, drink and stay.

Commenting on this year’s winners, Georgina said; “Excellence is always the top priority, of course, but our award winners this year share a quality which goes beyond that. Given the difficulties posed by the current economic situation, it takes a very special kind of determination and skill to confront the situation head-on, take control and come up with innovative ways to attract customers. Today’s winners represent those people in the hospitality industry who have got real grit and, by putting customer requirements first - and keeping up their marketing - can continue to provide a combination of excellence and value for money that brings in business, even at this dire time for the industry.”

Sponsors include: Bord Bia, BIM, Fáilte Ireland, and Waterways Ireland.