XL Killala, at Killala Motors on Georges Street, has taken the award for Best Chilled Foods at the XL Store of the Year Awards 2011, held at the Mullingar Park Hotel, Co. Westmeath. Run by the McDonnell family, this award-winning store upgraded their XL image as part of their 10 year anniversary back in August 2011.

Ballina is the Salmon Capital of Ireland and yet you will not find wild salmon on the menu of any of the town's award-winning restaurants, Ballina Town Council, heard at its budget meeting Wednesday night. Fine Gael councillor, Barry McLoughlin, said it was ironic that visitors coming to Ballina were unable to order a fresh Moy salmon dish in a local restaurant despite the fact they were visiting the town with the official title of Ireland's Salmon Capital.

GMIT graduate chef, Kamil Dubanik from Knockranny House Hotel in Westport, has been crowned .  Originally from Poland, Kamil completed an Advanced Certificate in Professional Cookery in GMIT this year (June) while also working in Knockranny House Hotel where he started out as a kitchen porter, working his way up to his current position of Demi-Chef de Partie.

The outstanding success of Mayo North East LEADER Partnership’s “Meet the Maker” Food Producers Showcase in Foxford last Wednesday was a strong indicator of the health and importance of the food sector in Mayo. The event marked the conclusion of an 18 month Small Food Producers Training and Development Programme which involved over 70 different food producers in north and east Mayo.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny presented awards to food tourism businesses all over the island of Ireland at the Good Food Ireland Conference and Awards ceremony in the Shelbourne Hotel on Wednesday night and among the award winners Rua, Castlebar winner of the Good Food Ireland Local Food Shop of  the Year.

Christmas is the time to celebrate our food tastes and traditions. Now here’s a chance to taste and buy locally produced foods, all from north and east Mayo. “Meet the Maker” is a Food Producers Showcase presented by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership. It will be held in the Foxford Sports andLeisure Centre on Wednesday, 30th November, from 6-9pm. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.

La Fougère, the restaurant at Westport’s award-winning Knockranny House Hotel, has been awarded one of the Irish hospitality industry’s  highest honours, the prestigious Hotel and Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Fine Dining. It has been a very successful year for the Mayo restaurant which has won a number of other top accolades in 2011.

GIY Ballina was awarded the title of Group of the Year in Connacht at this year’s GIY (Grow it Yourself) Gathering which recognised the efforts of GIYers for their outreach work in local communities. Judges were impressed with the group’s work in the local community - introducing local people to the joy of home-grown food. 

The Westport Woods Hotel were the only Mayo winners in the respected Georgina Campbell Awards 2012. The Westport Woods was crowned “Family Friendly Hotel of the Year 2012” at an event at Bord Bia in Dublin on Tuesday 11th October. The Georgina Campbell Awards are Ireland’s longest-running hospitality accolades and are completely independent and not commercially driven.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny led the congratulations for Cuinneog Ltd., Balla, who are celebrating 21 years in business this month. The birthday party took place at Rua, Castlebar and included celebration of their two gold stars presented at the 2011 Great Taste Awards earlier this year.