Double gold for Mayo butchers at inaugural National Irish Steak Challenge

TRADITIONAL butcher values were amply rewarded with two gold awards for Kelly’s Butchers, Newport, in the National Irish Steak Challenge run by the Craft Butchers of Ireland.

The family butchers came out tops in Connaught with their ribeye steaks and fillet steaks.

“This is a very important award for us,” said Seán Kelly of Kelly’s Butchers. “We are one of the very few butchers who still farm their own cattle and run their own abattoir and this is confirmation that this traditional system results in the very best tasting beef.

“We are very proud of these steak awards from the Craft Butchers. We’d like to thank all our customers for their support over the years and also the Craft Butchers for creating the new National Irish Steak Challenge.”

Kelly’s raise quality cattle on their family farm just outside Newport, which means the food miles from farm to fork are almost non-existent. This is both the time honoured, traditional way of doing things and completely in keeping with contemporary thinking about the environmental impact of shipping food long distances. It also ensures full traceability.

The National Irish Steak Challenge provides independent Irish butchers with a vital opportunity to highlight their product quality, breed credentials and processing standards on a national platform.

This inaugural event took place at The Champions Hall, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, with the competition was broken down into three categories: Fillet Steak, Ribeye Steak and Striploin Steak.

Judging is impartial and carried out by a panel of over 30 experts, including meat scientists, master butchers, industry professionals and specialised chefs. Notable figures on the judging panel included Sean Owens (IFEX Salon Culinaire Director) Darina Allen from Ballymaloe and Joe Burke (beef and livestock sector manager, Bord Bia).

Each steak is evaluated based on its own qualities against established criteria. Technical assessments focus on two aspects: raw and cooked and the scores combined.

Kelly’s Butchers are more usually associated with their black and white puddings and Kelly’s sausages, which have carried home the silverware on countless occasions over the years. On this occasion the family is very proud that their steaks are in the spotlight.

Call into the shop in Newport to see for yourself.