Burren Gold Cheese Story
Here in North County Clare, Aillwee is a Geosite within The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
This designation is something we are very proud of and take very seriously.
Burren Gold Cheese has received Geo Food status, which means it is a food that is produced within the Geopark using ingredients sourced within the Burren Region.
Made by local people and sold within the region.
This partnership has been hugely successful due to strong community participation and engagement.
Aillwee, a family run business that opened in 1976. Shortly afterwards, in 1985, the Farmshop opened, and the production of Burren Gold Cheese began.
Our relationship with our local farmer is strong and has continued to develop over the years. This partnership has been in place since we began cheesemaking.
Dairy Farming is a historical tradition in Ireland. Our partnership with Caherconnell Farm allows us to develop in a sustainable way by milking the cows once a day and together with local people, with local milk it is sold exclusively in the Burren Region.
We employ 10 people in the Farmshop during our cheesemaking season, from April to October.
Going forward, we will develop a cheese experience to educate and bring visitors on a journey of our Cheese Story.
This will lead to a deeper understanding of what you are eating, how it is made and the work that goes into each piece of Burren Gold Cheese that is produced, a true FARM TO FORK product.
In the Farmshop at Aillwee
In our small factory, we have been making cheese since 1985. Gaining experience in Holland, we adopted both the methods of Gouda style and Traditional Farmhouse cheesemaking.
This style is truly versatile and works very well for us, as we only make cheese while the cows are on pasture.
Traditionally, our cheesemaking season is from April to October, but because of how we age Burren Gold, we have a supply all year round.
Our milk has continually been sourced from the Holstein Friesian herd at Caherconnell Farm, located 5km from Aillwee Cave.
The herd graze the grass, wild herbs, and wildflowers in the heart of The Burren region.
Naturally smoking cheese has traditionally been a very difficult process, but when done correctly, the result can be exquisite.
Therefore, we pride ourselves on being one of the few artisan cheese makers continuing the craft of smoking cheese naturally.
A visit to the Farmshop will be educational and a culinary delight as a visitor will taste their way through lovely young creamy cheeses and the more intense mature cheeses.
Our Mature Burren Gold Cheese becomes harder and denser in texture, with bold flavours that can be sharp, salty, sweet, nutty, and caramelised all at once.
