County Derry producers scoop prestigious Irish Food Writers’ Guild award

Coleraine producers Sandra and David Scott have been honoured at the prestigious 2026 Irish Food Writers’ Guild Awards for their exceptional heritage Irish Moiled beef.

The ceremony, held at Ananda in Dundrum, brought together the nation’s leading chefs, producers, and food writers to celebrate excellence, sustainability, and community within the Irish food and drink sector.

The Derry-based couple were among an elite group of recipients recognised for their outstanding contribution to Ireland's culinary landscape.

Accepting the Irish food award for excellence in producing premium heritage Irish Moiled beef, the couple were recognised for their dedication to rearing Irish Moiled cattle and championing high-quality local produce. Their Moyletra Irish Moiled beef was showcased as the centrepiece of the main course at the awards lunch, served as a Wellington.

Fifth generation farmers David and Sandra Scott produce seriously delicious beef at Moyletra Farm on the beautiful Causeway Coast, where their endangered Irish Moiled cattle thrive on the farm and conservation lands.

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With sustainability in mind as well as a love of the Irish Moiled breed, they have changed direction in this generation to enable their children to have a future in farming here if they choose – and specialising in Irish Moiled cattle and the associated environmentally friendly farming is making that possible.

One of the rarest cattle breeds in the world and the only surviving native breed in Northern Ireland, the hornless Moilie is slow growing and hardy; they can be out-wintered when conditions allow - and, while mainly grass-fed, they are foragers, especially of willow, ash and ivy, all of which helps to encourage biodiversity and contributes to their exceptional texture and flavour. 

Rearing standards are set out by the Irish Moiled Cattle Society  ensuring the purity of the breed and its special characteristics, including its medium size (producing a perfect 8oz sirloin steak!) and, thanks to its marbling, exceptional succulence of the cheaper cuts which make the beef ideal for nose-to-tail cooking.

With over 100 happy moilies at Moyletra, The Scotts have one of the biggest herds anywhere, and a farm shop on site (8.00am-10.00pm daily) as well as online sales with delivery across Northern Ireland.

Welcoming guests, Chairperson Paula McIntyre said it was: “My very great pleasure to welcome you all to Ananda for today’s Food Awards presentation and lunch” and extended, “a particularly warm welcome to all our 2026 award winners, who have travelled from Cork, Clare, Derry, Louth, Fermanagh, Wicklow and Galway” 

Reflecting on the Guild’s history, she noted that the awards were launched in 1993 to highlight the work of small, independent Irish food producers and organisations of the highest quality. “More than 30 years later, we're proud to celebrate the food and drinks that are the cornerstones of Ireland’s reputation as a provider of wholesome, innovative and sustainable food.”

She emphasised the independence of the judging process, stating that the Guild prides itself “on the integrity of the awards through our unique nomination and judging process, with members remaining the sole nominating and decision making body".

Describing this year’s winners, she said, “The IFWG Food Awards are a celebration of this country’s thriving, world-class artisan food and drink industry… The award winners this year exemplify our ethos”  She added, “Emigration and immigration is how we evolve and long may we welcome, adapt and cherish food from other nations – it only makes us stronger.”