Coolattin cheese is supreme champion for the second time Baltinglass
ONE of Wicklow’s favourite artisan cheeses was named as the Supreme Champion in the recent Irish Cheese Awards.
Coolattin Cheddar’s Mount Leinster Clothbound which is produced by Tom Burgess in Knockeen, Tullow, not far from the Wicklow border took the top honour at the ceremony which took place recently at Ballymaloe Grainstore.
A total of 160 cheeses were entered into this year’s Irish Cheese Awards with 17 new cheeses – proof that the Irish artisan cheese industry is thriving.
Tom received his award from Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy.
Coolattin Cheddar also picked up the award for Best Cow’s Milk Cheese, also for its Mount Leinster Clothbound and a Gold and Broze award in the Pressed Cheese Aged 3 Months + category.
Tom Burgess said that he was honoured to pick up the Supreme Champion Award for the second time.
‘The awards take place every two years. We won it on the last occasion so it was wonderful to retain the title and to come away again with the Supreme Champion Award,’ he said.
While Tom has been making cheese for many years on his working dairy farm, Coolattin Cheddar has been in production for the past 12 years.
‘It is a raw milk cheese, so we milk the cows in the morning and it goes straight into the cheese vat while still warm. We mature it for at least a year before it goes to the market,’ Tom said.
Taking inspiration for the name from the sprawling Coollattin Estate, in South Wicklow, Coolattin Cheddar is sold all over the country in good cheesemongers and farmers’ markets, and features on many a restaurant cheeseboard.
Cattle sale, November 9: An improved trade for quality cattle and forward stores and weanlings.
Plainer friesians from 400550 kg also dearer.
Sample prices: Bullocks: 620 kg €1140 LM, 645kg €1230 BB, 725 kg €1340 LM, 735 kg €1500 BB.
Heifers: 320 kg €570 CH, 410 kg €700 AA, 485 kg €890 AA, 700 kg €1190 HE, 685 kg €1460 BB, 795kg €1640 BB.
nSheep sale, November 11: There was an improved trade for all sorts of sheep.
Animals weighing 50-60kg made from €94-€107 and 4550kg made from €86-€101.
Suffolk cross ewe lambs made up to €115. Store lambs 36-40 KG made from €70€84. Lighter stores made from €45-€70.
Cast ewes made from €65€95. Breeding ewes made up to €120.
Sample prices: Wether and ram lambs: 37.9kg – €81, 41kg – €86, 30kg – €61, 34.5kg – €70, and 49.3kg – €102.
Ewe Lambs: 40.8kg – €87, 40kg – €85, 39kg – €85, 42.5kg – €86, 51.5kg – €115, and 44kg – €93.
nfor all classes with strong butcher and factory as well as farmer demand, lambs up by €3 - €6 per head with heavy cull ewes up by €10.
Butcher Lambs over 50kg at €103 -€111, Factory Lambs over 44kg at €90 - €104, Store Lambs over 35kg at €78 - €90, Store Lambs under 35kg at €68 - €83, Ewe Lambs €90 - €116, Cull Ewes €60 - €120.
Prices: 15 L 54kg at €108, 18 L 52kg at €105, 25 L 53kg at €111, 18 L 43kg at €90.50, 25 L 39.5kg €87, 15 L 40kg at €90, 15 E/L 49kg at €115, 13 L 41kg at €90, 20 L 33kg at €77, 15 L 37kg at €85.
Dairy sale, November 9: 50 head on offer, Very strong demand for freshly calved heifers and cows.
Prices: Freshly Calved Hfrs €1400 - €1600, Autumn Spring Hfrs €1100 - €1500, Spring Calving Hfrs €1000 €1250, Calved Cows in Milk €800 - €1250.
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