Hegarty's Cheese facts for kids

Hegarty's Cheese is a company in Whitechurch, County Cork, Ireland, that makes delicious cheese from cow's milk. It was started in 2001 by Dan Hegarty on his family farm. Later, in 2016, a talented cheesemaker from France named Jean-Baptiste Enjelvin joined the team. They make three different kinds of cheese.

What Kinds of Cheese Does Hegarty's Make?

Hegarty's Cheese makes three special kinds of cheese, all from milk from their Friesian cows.

• Hegarty's Cheddar: This was the very first cheese made on the farm! It's made using traditional methods and milk that has been pasteurized (heated to kill germs).
• Templegall: This cheese is like a Swiss cheese, similar to Comté cheese. It's made from raw milk and has won many amazing awards because it tastes so good!
• Hegarty's Smoked Cheddar: This is the same as Hegarty's Cheddar, but it gets a special smoky flavor. It's naturally smoked using beechwood, which gives it a strong and unique taste.

Winning Awards!

Hegarty's Cheese, especially their Templegall cheese, has won many important awards for its quality and taste.

• In 2019, Templegall won a gold medal in the Raw Milk category at the Irish Cheese Awards.
• In 2021, Templegall was named the Supreme Champion at the Irish Cheese Awards. It also won gold medals in the "Mature Hard Cheese" and "Raw Milk Cheese" categories that year.
• In 2024, Templegall won the Supreme Champion award at the Irish Cheese Awards for the second time in a row! It also earned the Supreme Champion title at the Artisan Cheese Awards in Melton Mowbray, UK.