Latest news with #DiageoIreland
Agriland
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Agriland
Heading to Cavan's Big Day Out?
The Virginia Show and 2025 Diageo Baileys Champion Cow returns on Wednesday, August 20 From Ireland's dairy elite to cookery demos, the Virginia Show returns on Wednesday, August 20 with a full day of farming pride, family fun, and fierce competition - all just a stone's throw from Lough Ramor. Whether you are coming to see 'the Baileys', browse the craft stalls, or sample local produce, this top Co. Cavan tradition promises something for everyone. Set against this picturesque backdrop, the Virginia Show is a magnet for farming families and day-trippers alike. The event features almost 500 competitive classes - from livestock and horses to home industries, cookery, crafts, and young stockperson awards. The show's unique combination of agricultural pride, entertainment, and community celebration makes it one of Ireland's most beloved country shows. At its heart lies the internationally recognised Diageo Baileys Champion Cow competition. One of the show's greatest draws for over 40 years, the event celebrates the finest Holstein Friesian dairy cows from across the island, supported by Diageo Ireland and cream supplier Tirlán—the key ingredient partner behind Baileys Irish Cream. Speaking at this year's launch, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon praised the competition. He said: "The success of our Irish cream is a testament to the quality of our agri-food sector, which continues to deliver premium produce enjoyed around the world. "I commend Diageo and Tirlán for recognising the vital role of Irish dairy farmers and for continuing to spotlight the best of Irish agriculture through this competition, for showcasing our quality Irish cream globally and for supporting the future sustainability of the agri-food sector. I wish all entrants the very best ahead of this year's Virginia Show.' The title of Baileys Champion Cow comes with a €3,000 prize and the Virginia Milk Products Cup, while Reserve Champion and Honourable Mention earn €1,500 and €800 respectively. Popular classes such as Best Heifer in Milk and Junior Cow in Second Lactation offer over €3,000 in additional prize money. Breeders from both the Irish Holstein Friesian Association and Holstein NI are eligible to compete. Judging begins at 3:00p.m, where the best of the best will be paraded and evaluated by an international judge in front of a packed audience. Updates on the competition can be followed on Facebook. From early morning, the showgrounds come alive with meticulously groomed animals, passionate competitors, and crowds eager to soak in the atmosphere. In the sheep section, judges assess style, stance and skill. In the food hall, the best of Irish produce is on display—artisanal cheeses, chocolates, cured meats, oils, preserves and more. Visitors can sample as they browse and pick up expert culinary tips from live cookery demonstrations led by award-winning chefs. These interactive demos are a big draw for aspiring home cooks and seasoned foodies alike. The Virginia Show is about more than agriculture - it's a festival of rural life. The fashion show attracts large crowds every year with its mix of traditional country style and modern flair. The hotly contested Most Appropriately Dressed competition offers fun and glamour for all ages. Live music from the gig rig, along with street food stalls, pop-up shops, local crafts, and specialty drink vendors, ensure that there's something for everyone. Whether you're there for red rosettes, artisanal produce, stylish fashion, or simply a great day out in the country, the 2025 Virginia Show has it all. Six fun things to do at this year's show: Pick your favourite bovine beauty queen at the Baileys Cow Hotel; Share a chat over coffee at one of the many cafés; Check out the latest styles at the fashion show; Sample crafts, cooking and chocolate; Watch how to herd geese; Pick out a winner in the art competition. Parking is free with access from all major roads and friendly stewards in white coats ready to help.
Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Virginia Show opens entries for 2025 Baileys Cow
Diageo Ireland, in partnership with its cream supplier Tirlán, announced the return of the Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition at the Virginia Show on August 20, 2025. Celebrating the excellence of Ireland's Holstein Friesian dairy herds, the event remains a showcase of the quality behind Baileys signature ingredient, Irish dairy cream. Attending its launch in Dublin recently minister for agriculture, food and the marine, Martin Heydon, praised the long-running competition as a symbol of pride in dairy farming and the herds behind the 'hero' ingredient in Baileys. Launching the competition, Minister Heydon said the competition was a "proud celebration of the excellence, care and commitment that define Irish dairy farming". "This stand-out event highlights the grass-based dairy breeding practices that our skilled farmers are known for and underpins the success of one of our most iconic global brands and our all-island geographical indication, Irish cream," he said. 'The success of our Irish cream is a testament to the quality of our agri-food sector, which continues to deliver premium produce enjoyed around the world. "I commend Diageo and Tirlán for recognising the vital role of Irish dairy farmers and for continuing to spotlight the best of Irish agriculture through this competition, for showcasing our quality Irish cream globally and for supporting the future sustainability of the agri-food sector. I wish all entrants the very best ahead of this year's Virginia Show.' Shane Kelly, Diageo Ireland Corporate Relations Director, added: 'We are delighted to champion the exceptional quality of Irish dairy cream – the heart of every bottle of Baileys. This annual event is a stand-out moment in the year to recognise dairy breeding practices.' Entry to the Diageo Baileys Cow is open to members of both the Irish Holstein Friesian Association and Holstein NI. The competition's top prize, Diageo Baileys Champion, comes with a cash reward of €3,000 and the Virginia Milk Products Cup Reserve Champion and Honourable Mention will receive €1,500 and €800, respectively. Additionally, the event will feature numerous other category prizes, including Junior Cows in their second lactation, with a total prize fund of €1,550. The popular Best-Heifer-in-Milk category will also offer €1,550, with €750 awarded to the first-place winner. Entries can be submitted online at or by contacting Patrick Gaynor on: 087-2898707. Read More EU gives Irish dairy high marks, but goat ID and cold store gaps need action
Irish Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Dublin cocktail artist named Ireland's bartender of the year
A BARTENDER in Dublin has been named Ireland's best of 2025 following a competition held on Spike Island in Co. Cork. Isadora Petinari, from 9 Below Bar in Dublin, was named the World Class Ireland Bartender of the Year 2025 at The World Class Ireland Finals 2025 which took place over two days earlier this month. Following a hard-fought final, Ms Petinari triumphed over tough competition from fellow finalists Harry Broadhurst, of Cask in Cork, and Akram Bendjeddou, from Paladar, also in Cork, in what organisers described as 'the ultimate test of cocktail artistry and hospitality'. Isadora Petinari was named the World Class Ireland Bartender of the Year at The World Class Ireland Finals 2025 The first challenge of the competition asked competitors to create a cocktail which 'utilised all five of the senses' using The Singleton of Dufftown Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Day two of the event saw the finalists given a small budget to create a "one-of-a-kind" Don Julio bar to serve their unique cocktails from - along with bespoke personalised menus to highlight their cocktail offerings. Ms Petinari was selected as the winner and she will now represent Ireland at the World Class Global Finals in Toronto, Canada, this September, where she will compete against the world's best bartenders to be named World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2025. One of Ms Petinari's world class cocktail entries "I'm thrilled and honoured to be named World Class Ireland Bartender of the Year,' Ms Petinari said this week. 'The competition was incredibly tough – the talent across the nation is incredible and I'm so grateful for the support to date. 'I'm looking forward to representing Ireland in Toronto and giving it my all,' she added. Cal Byrne, Head of Advocacy at Diageo Ireland, who organsied the competition, said the level of talent at the World Class Ireland final was' truly exceptional'. 'We were blown away by the creativity, skill and passion of all three finalists,' he added. 'Isadora's cocktail serves stood out, demonstrating a deep understanding of flavour, technique, cocktail artistry and the art of hospitality,' he confirmed. 'Roll on September in Toronto as we bring her to a global stage.' See More: 9 Below Bar. Dublin, Isadora Petinari, World Class Ireland
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Guinness 0.0 sales up 27%, with plans for €30m investment at St James's Gate
Sales of Guinness 0.0 in bars have grown 27% in the last year, with the non-alcoholic version to take up 12% of total stout production at the Dublin brewery next year. Guinness 0.0 - known to many people as Guinness Zero - is now available in 4,000 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the island of Ireland. New figures released by Diageo show that the non-alcoholic stout has enjoyed a huge 161% increase in yearly volume on-trade sales between June 2022 and March 2025. 'The growth of Guinness 0.0 over the last three years demonstrates the enormous appetite consumers have for greater choice in what they are consuming," said Ross Bissett, Diageo Ireland on-trade commercial director. This growth is set to continue into 2026 when an additional €30m investment into Guinness 0.0 production capacity comes on stream, allowing the St James's Gate brewery to brew 176m pints of Guinness 0.0 a year for international and domestic markets. "We expect Guinness 0.0 to take up about 12% of all production at St James's Gate which is a testament to the sheer demand we're seeing and the incredible high-quality product our teams continue to produce here in Dublin 8," said Mr Bissett. Overall, Guinness 0.0 serves on the island of Ireland across can, draught and micro-draught cans in pubs, hotels and restaurants grew by 35% in the year to March 2025. First launched five years ago, Guinness 0.0 is now the biggest selling non-alcohol brand in the UK. Last month, Guinness owner Diageo's finance chief Nik Jhangiani said it would not be selling the iconic Irish brand as part of an asset sale plan, finance chief Nik Jhangiani said on Tuesday. Guinness saw net sales grow by 13% over the half-year to December. The stout's extraordinary growth, fuelled by TikTok trends to 'split the G', makes the Irish brand the star for Diageo during a difficult trading period globally. Guinness saw net sales grow by 13% over the half-year to December. The world's top spirits maker forecast a $150m hit from US president Donald Trump's tariffs, and has launched a $500 (€437m) cost-savings programme. Indeed the entire global alcohol sector has been facing some sober realities recently. This week, Remy Martin joined joins peers Diageo and Pernod Ricard in withdrawing sales targets that had become widely seen as overly ambitious as the sector endures a slowdown from previous boom years for pricey liquors.
