2016 Award Winners GEORGINA CAMPBELL AWARD 2016

Kevin Sheridan, Evan Doyle & Jp McMahon

A special award, given in recognition of the unique contribution made by exceptional individuals in Irish food & hospitality

Great ideas are like buses, after a long wait they come in clusters. So it is with an inspired vision for Irish food, that a number of people - notably the individuals we are recognising here, each of whom is already an Irish food hero in the context of their own businesses - are expressing in different ways.

At this year’s TASTE Council Summer School, Evan Doyle and Kevin Sheridan presented a compelling vision of Ireland as ready to take its place as a destination for true ‘food tourists’ who travel specifically to experience the food culture.

Already a successful concept in other countries (Italy, Spain, Scandinavia), we may not currently have the world-famous chefs or restaurants that would be an obvious attraction to food tourists but, as panellist and Commissioner General of Euro-Toques Ireland, Wade Murphy, commented at the Summer School, “We have instead a food family, full of excitement and passion.”

Over in the West that giant among Irish chefs, Jp McMahon, shares a similar vision through Food On the Edge, an event that, although Galway-focused, could equally apply to the whole of Ireland.

A coming-together of over 40 top international chefs and food leaders, this 2-day Food Symposium aims to showcase Irish food culture on an international level.

Showcasing our heritage of traditional foods and cooking alongside new and contemporary ways to a unique collection of the world’s top chefs, such an event will stimulate creative thinking among our own chefs - and present our credentials as a true food tourism destination.

For their vision and leadership in recognising and developing this exciting concept, we are proud to give special recognition to Kevin Sheridan & Evan Doyle, representing the TASTE Council of Ireland, and Jp McMahon, of EatGalway and Food on the Edge.