About

We believe that local food and drink is the gateway to our Irish culture, connecting you with our people, our traditions and the history of our island.

ABOUT

GOOD FOOD IRELAND®

OUR Story

In 2006 from her farm in Co Wexford, Margaret Jeffares had a vision to link Ireland’s two biggest indigenous industries, agri-food and tourism, to develop local food and drink as an economic driver. To do this she crafted a brand, Good Food Ireland® to be the consumer facing endorsement. This new standard of guaranteed trust and honesty in food and drink set the scene for a new kind of tourism for Ireland. One which embraced the country’s legendary food and drink production, farming and fishing heritage, as an essential part of the visitor experience.,

AN All-Ireland Experience

Today Good Food Ireland® is the trustmark for local food and drink experiences of the island of Ireland. It has become the standard to aspire to. Each and every business approved to the Good Food Ireland® Collection form a solid core of people who share the vision to give the best local food and drink experience in Ireland.

IRELAND'S Culinary Culture

The distinctive Good Food Ireland® brand signals a safe and rewarding Irish ingredient-led experience for every visitor, every time. We believe Irish cuisine is driven by our local ingredients and seasonal variations no matter what the desired style of cooking. We are proud to highlight local produce, craft drinks and local juices on menus and actively and conscientiously seek out the best quality local and seasonal ingredients, so that every meal or food and drink produce has its own story of Ireland to tell. Of that we are very proud.

We Believe in Standards

We are passionate about our local food and drink, as well as good old fashioned Irish hospitality and want to give you, a genuine quality and authentic Irish experience. So, it’s no accident that Good Food Ireland® is so special. Every business within our Collection has been visited and certified by our team to ensure the highest standards before being invited to join. We stand over our promise to you and to each other.

Our Philosophy

No matter how large or how small, each business within our Collection is connected by their unfailing commitment to prioritising the core indigenous ingredients of Irish produce and cuisine, sustainably supporting Irish farmers, food producers and fishermen.

Our Promise

You will always get much more than simply good local food and drink, from and for people, who really do care. Experience Ireland as we know it, let us be your friend, let us share our secrets with you.

 

A Food Lovers paradise

If you love good food, Good Food Ireland® is the ultimate collection to experience the very best that Ireland has to offer. 

 

Stay in a B&B, an Irish Castle, a Country House or a luxury 5-star hotel and be assured that you not only have chosen a great place to stay but that stay will be enhanced by the wonderful local food. Choose a casual bistro or a Michelin star restaurant, a village pub or cosy café, we’ve got lunch and dinner completely covered. Visit a food or drink producer, take a farm tour and tasting or pop into one our shops and delis for a delightful picnic with lots of local produce. You can even learn to cook in our cookery schools and discover what makes our natural Irish ingredients so great.

 

Be Inspired

The Good Food Ireland® Collection is designed to connect you with local cuisine, from farm to fork and sea to plate. Travel like an insider and discover the wonderful natural ingredients offered by our fertile island landscape and seascape. 

 

From mushroom hunts to cheese tasting, to oyster farm tours, whiskey or beer tastings, our constantly evolving experiences are handpicked from our Collection. Buy online or give as a gift, for a true local flavour.

 

Our Good Food Ireland® Tours connect travellers with our people and culinary and cultural traditions, the perfect authentic Irish holiday experience.

Can’t wait to come to Ireland? Or want to feel closer to home?

Explore or country through our food and drink. The Good Food Ireland® Online Shop has a range of Hampers and Foodhall Boxes full of delicious handpicked produce from local farmers, food producers and fishermen all over the island of Ireland. 

 

You can also choose from a wide selection of food and cook books by Ireland’s favourite Chefs and Authors as well as exclusive kitchen items and Irish designed crafts.

 

Help support our vision and give the gift of Good Food Ireland®. 

MEET

THE TEAM

Our expert team have years of experience in food, tourism and travel. We know our food and our people so you can be certain you’re in the right hands.

Margaret Jeffares
Margaret Jeffares
Founder & Managing Director
Susan Kerr
Susan Kerr
Executive Director
Dr Detta Melia
Dr Detta Melia
Quality Assurance
Bárbara Young
Bárbara Young
Digital Marketing Executive
Tom O’Connell
Tom O’Connell
Tom’s formative hotel and food and beverage experience started in Ireland leading to a career in hospitality spanning Europe the UK and Ireland with a training year also spent in New York City. An honours graduate in hospitality management from Shannon College. The consistent thread in Tom’s hospitality path has been the ability to spot trends, stay up-to-date and be consistently innovative. His career focus from the earliest training periods in Switzerland and New York was on Food & Beverage concepts and management efficiency. Innovation and change management have been central pillars of his career. Tom has a proven track record in operational and ownership / management roles within the hospitality business. Tom now works with owners and companies to advise and mentor with a focus on efficiency, innovation and profitability.
Maurice Keller
Maurice Keller
Maurice Keller has over 20 years experience in the food and hospitality sector.
Redmond O’ Donoghue
Redmond O’ Donoghue
Chairman
Margaret Jeffares
Margaret Jeffares
Founder & Managing Director
Darina Allen
Darina Allen
Ballymaloe Cookery School
Peter McCann
Peter McCann
The Merrion Hotel
Sean Boland
Sean Boland
Hertz Ireland
Susan Ker
Susan Ker
Director of Operations
Robert Ditty
Robert Ditty
Ditty's Bakery
Bill Kelly
Bill Kelly
Kelly's Hotel Resort & Spa
Howard Hastings
Howard Hastings
Hastings Hotels
Maurice Keller
Maurice Keller
Good Food Ireland® Ambassador
Peter Ward
Peter Ward
Country Choice
Derry Clarke
Derry Clarke
L'Ecrivain

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

High Recognition from An Taoiseach, the Irish Prime Minister

“Good Food Ireland® really is a brand of quality, so Margaret on behalf of the government and therefore the people to you and your committee and to everybody associated with Good Food Ireland® I say well done, thank you, go raibh míle maith agaibh” An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D.
Our Founder, Margaret Jeffares was invited to The White House, by US President Obama in recognition of her pioneering vision and the establishment of Good Food Ireland®

OUR AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

2015

The Inaugural Irish Tourism Industry Awards | Recognising Success and Innovation – Best Food Experience Award

2015

Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland® invited by Barack Obama, President of The United States Of America, to The White House

2011 – 2019

Invited to represented Ireland at The Breeders Cup World Horse Racing Championship, USA

2011

Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland® invited to meet Her Majesty The Queen, on her State Visit to Ireland

2011

The Marketing Institute All Ireland Marketing Awards – Small Business Marketing Award

2010

SFA National Small Business Awards – Outstanding Small Business Award

2009

Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland® invited to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet Mary McAleese, President of Ireland

2008

The Marketing Institute South East Marketing Awards – New Business Award

2008

The Marketing Institute All Ireland Marketing Awards – Marketing Innovation Award

2007

Design Business Ireland Awards – Branding & Identity Award

OUR AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

2015

The Inaugural Irish Tourism Industry Awards | Recognising Success and Innovation - Best Food Experience Award

2015

Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland® invited by Barack Obama, President of The United States Of America, to The White House

2011 – 2019

Invited to represented Ireland at The Breeders Cup World Horse Racing Championship, USA

2011

Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland® invited to meet Her Majesty The Queen, on her State Visit to Ireland

2011

The Marketing Institute All Ireland Marketing Awards – Small Business Marketing Award

2010

SFA National Small Business Awards - Outstanding Small Business Award

2009

Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland® invited to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet Mary McAleese, President of Ireland

2008

The Marketing Institute South East Marketing Awards - New Business Award

2008

The Marketing Institute All Ireland Marketing Awards - Marketing Innovation Award

2007

Design Business Ireland Awards - Branding & Identity Award