Tom, Norma, Méabh and Áine Dinneen on the family farm. (David Clynch Photography)

The Bo Rua Farm in Ballynoe were among the winners from the Kerrygold Listowel Food Fair Cheese Competition, announced ahead of the 23rd annual Listowel Food Fair next month.

They were among a number of Cork cheesemakers to be recognised. Bo Rua Farm took the award for Best Natural Cheddar. While Bluebell Falls in Chareville and Coolea Farmhouse in Macroom were also successful in this year’s competition.

Bo Rua Farm is run by the Norma, Tom and the Dineen family in Ballynoe. Tom’s family have been dairy farming for generations, while Norma, whose background is in electrical engineering, has a speciality food diploma from UCC.

The name Bo Rua Farm comes from the Montbeliarde, a French breed with a distinctive, red-coloured hide that can be found on their farm in Ballynoe.