Northern Irishxa0Ruralxa0Businesses Honoured at Countryside Alliance Ireland Awards
Countrysidexa0Alliancexa0Ireland held its annual ‘Ruralxa0Oscars’ awards ceremony in The Titanic Centre in Belfast where several Northern Irishxa0ruralxa0businesses werexa0crowned champions.
Thexa0Countrysidexa0Alliancexa0Awards – now in their 17thxa0year – recognisexa0ruralxa0businesses across five categories, including ‘best local food’, ‘best butcher’, ‘best pub’, ‘bestxa0ruralxa0enterprise’, and ‘best village shop/ post office’.
These rural businesses go the extra mile within their communities, supporting the local economy and championing local goods and services.
Thousands of nominations from around thexa0countryxa0were whittled down via a public vote, with the final few being honoured at the Northern Irish finalists’ awards dinner and ceremony on Monday 25 March at The Titanic exhibition centre in Belfast.
The awards were presented by former TV news anchor Lynda Bryans and attended by a number of MLAs and local councillors.
The winner of each category will go on to represent Northern Ireland in the national champions reception at the House of Lords in June, competing against other finalists from Wales, Scotland, and England.
The winners of the 2024 Countryside Alliance Ireland Awards were as follows:
Local Food: Horner’s Farm Shop, Comber, County Down
Ruralxa0Enterprise: Colemans Garden Centre, County Antrim
Village Shop and Post Office: Canning’s Spar, Derry
Butcher: Nesbitt Quality Meats, County Antrim
Pub: Head O’The Road, County Armagh
The following businesses received highly commended awards:
Local Food: Broughgammon Farm, County Antrim
Ruralxa0Enterprise: Craig View Luxury Glamping, Countyxa0Tyrone
Village Shop and Post Office: Rathlin Village Shop, County Antrim
Butcher: Muldrews Butchers, County Armagh
Pub: The Highway Inn Bar and Kitchen, Lisburn
Gary McCartney, Director of thexa0Countrysidexa0Alliancexa0Ireland, said:xa0″Running a business in axa0ruralxa0community isn’t easy, particularly in recent times.
“The evening was all about celebrating the valued role thesexa0ruralxa0enterprises have in their communities.
“Their continuing promotion and defence of Northern Irish produce, skills andxa0ruralxa0life deserves all the credit it gets.
“We atxa0Countrysidexa0Alliancexa0Ireland are proud to be honouring a group of people who are passionate about their countrysidexa0and passionate about providing quality goods, services and employment toxa0ruralxa0communities and beyond”.
