Ardagh Castle Cheese facts for kids

Ardagh Castle is a special place in Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland, where delicious cheese is made! It's owned by Gwynfor and Christine Owen, who took over the business in 2014. They continue to make cheese the same way it was started by Judy Wotton.

They make three kinds of cheese by hand, using fresh, raw milk from their own small group of Anglo-Nubian goats. Because they make it by hand, only a small amount is produced. You can often find their cheese at the Skibbereen farmers market.

Making Cheese at Ardagh Castle

Ardagh Castle makes what are called "farmhouse cheeses." This means the cheese is made right on the farm where the milk comes from. They use "raw milk," which means the milk has not been heated to a very high temperature (a process called pasteurization). This helps give the cheese a unique flavor.

What Kinds of Cheese Do They Make?

Ardagh Castle makes three main types of cheese:

• Ardagh Castle Goats Cheese: This cheese is good for vegetarians. It is aged for different amounts of time, from about two months up to six months. Aging helps the cheese develop its flavor and texture.
• Ardagh Castle Gjetost: This is a special type of cheese made from "whey." Whey is the liquid left over after milk has been curdled and strained to make other cheeses. Gjetost is often sweet and caramel-like. They make this cheese when someone orders it.
• Ardagh Castle Ricotta: Like Gjetost, Ricotta is also made from whey. It's a soft, creamy cheese that is often used in cooking. They also make this cheese when someone orders it.

Awards and Recognition

Ardagh Castle cheese has won awards for its quality. In 2011, their Goats Cheese (aged over 3 months) won a bronze medal at the British Cheese Awards. This shows that their handmade cheese is recognized as being very good!

Find Out More

• List of goat milk cheeses

External Links

• Official website of Ardagh Castle: https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231630/http://www.ardaghcastle.com/home.html