Sean Kelly outside the award-winning butchers shop in Newport.

A year of accolades for Mayo's Kelly’s Butchers

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IT has been an exceptional year for Kelly’s Butchers in terms of awards, both national and international.

The Newport-based family business added significantly to the trophy cabinet, winning awards for Kelly’s Puddings (including Kelly’s Vegetarian Pudding), Kelly’s Rashers and Kelly’s Hazlett.

It began early, in January, when Kelly’s won double gold in the inaugural National Irish Steak Challenge run by the Craft Butchers of Ireland. Kelly’s came out tops in Connaught with their Ribeye Steaks and Fillet Steaks.

The highlight of the year was in Germany during the summer when Kelly’s Butchers carried away top international honours from the giant IFFA trade fair in Frankfurt, winning five gold medals, two silver and one bronze. This was the highest number achieved by any Irish butcher.

The Gold medals were awarded for Kelly’s Black Pudding, Kelly’s Smoked White Pudding, Kelly’s White Pudding with Cranberry, Kelly’s White Pudding with Seaweed and Kelly’s Smoked Dry Cured Rashers. The two Silver medals were for Kelly’s Hazlett and Kelly’s White Pudding. Kelly’s High Protein Vegetarian Pudding completed the honours list with a bronze medal.

The high total of gold medals (five) earned Kelly’s Butchers a special trophy from the German Butchers’ Association in honour of their achievement.

IFFA Frankfurt (International Trade Fair for the Meat and Protein Industry) is a huge event; it is the leading international trade fair for the meat industry and only takes place every three years.

Seán Kelly expressed the family’s delight, saying: “We are honestly thrilled at winning the five gold medals. We have an incredible team here in Newport and it’s thanks to them that we can compete at the highest international level, judged by an international expert jury and come out on top. I’m proud of everyone in the business and what we have achieved.”

Pictured outside the Kelly’s of Newport production area with Kelly’s Butchers huge haul of gold medals, trophy and certificates were (from left): Ethan Kelly, Paul Long, Virginijus Palacionis, Claire Smith, Joanne McHugh, Darren Moran, Terri Clarke, Sean Kelly, Kevin McGreevy, Sean Kelly, Shauna Kelly, Seamus Kelly, Cormac Kelly, Aaron Chambers, Gerald Chambers, Donatas Urbutis, Ciara Coyne, Luke Long, Phil Smith, John Carney, Neil Kirby and Patrick Cannon. Photo: Ed Reid

At Blás na hÉireann in the autumn, the spotlight shone on Kelly’s Hazlett which was awarded Silver. Kelly’s products have featured regularly in the Blás awards and as these are the premier Irish food awards, winning medals here is very important to the family.

At this time of year the butcher’s shop in Newport is busy morning ‘til night preparing everything customers will need for their Christmas table – turkey, ham, duck, beef and more. In the background, the ‘elves’ are packing hampers to send out all around the country. New this year is a gluten-free hamper which customers were asking for.

The shop is gorgeous around the festive period, and the counter is heaving with meat treats for everyone. Next door Kelly’s Kitchen is a warm and welcoming refuge from the whirlwind of Christmas activity.

The Kelly family want to thank all their customers for their loyalty during the year and wish them a very happy and peaceful Christmas and new year.

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