Best Irish Cow's Milk Cheese Types
Dubliner is an Irish cheese produced in County Cork. The cheese is made from cow's milk. Its texture is firm, smooth, and crystalline, while the flavors are nutty, sharp, and sweet. Dubliner has a natural rind, and today it is available in a wide variety of flavors.
The cheese was originally invented by John Lucey, who still keeps the secret recipe. It is recommended to serve the Dubliner with Cabernet or a pint of Guinness beer. Alternatively, it can be melted between slices of crusty brown bread.
Pair with
Milleens is an Irish farmhouse cheese made from the milk of Friesian cows grazing the Beara peninsula pastures of South West Ireland. This soft washed rind cheese has pungent and earthy aromas, while the flavors are mushroomy, floral, sweet, and herbaceous.
Milleens was originally invented in 1976 by Veronica and Norman Steele. Nowadays, the cheese is produced in 1kg (called Milleens O) and 200g versions (called Milleens Dote). The Dote cheeses are softer and have more fragrance than the O cheeses.
Pair with
Produced since 1979 by Willems family in County Cork, Coolea is a Gouda-style cheese made with cow's milk. Underneath its waxy outer layer, the cheese hides a firm, crumbly, and dense texture. When young, Coolea is buttery and mild in flavor, and as it ages (up to 18 months), it develops flavors that are sweet and caramel-like, with the protein crystals fully visible.
The cheese is sold as young Coolea (3 months), mature Coolea (12 months), and extra mature Coolea (18 months). It is recommended to use it in mac & cheese, with potatoes, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.
Pair with
Gubbeen is an Irish semi-soft cheese made from cow's milk. Underneath its washed rind, the cheese has a creamy and open texture. The flavors are nutty, milky, and buttery, with hints of grass and mushrooms. When young, Gubbeen has notes of flowers and hazelnut, and when mature, it develops notes of mushrooms and forest floor.
It is recommended to pair it with beer and aromatic white wines.
Pair with
Durrus is a semi-soft Irish cheese made from raw cow's milk. It's been produced in the valley of Coomkeen in West Cork since 1979. The cheese has a natural washed rind that is pinkish in color. Underneath it, there is a straw-colored paste with numerous irregular small eyes dispersed throughout it.
The texture is soft and pliable, while the flavors range from grassy, mellow, and mild when young (10 days) to strong, rich, and earthy when mature (5-8 weeks). It is recommended to pair Durrus with beer, prosecco, champagne, or medium-bodied red wines.
Pair with
Cashel Blue is an Irish cheese produced in County Tipperary. This blue cheese is made from local cow's milk. The producers, Jane and Louis Grubb, have been making this cheese since 1984. The young versions have a chalky and milky aromas and flavors, while the older cheeses are buttery and rich.
The ones that have been aged for more than 18 weeks have a robust flavor and granular texture. It's recommended to pair the young versions with Gewurztraminer, the medium-aged ones with Sauternes, and the aged versions with Port. You can also crumble Cashel Blue over salads or serve it with grapes, pears, and walnuts.
Pair with
Coolattin Cheddar is an Irish cheese originating from Carlow. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk. This cheddar has a coating of red wax on the exterior, while the texture underneath it is open and crumbly. The flavors of Coolattin are fruity and sweet when young, becoming more complex and nutty as it ages (1-2 years).
It's recommended to pair it with a glass of cider. There are also two other varieties of Coolattin – Vintage (2-3 years) and Smoked, which is creamier and has notes of smoke.
Dunbarra is a traditional cheese hailing from County Tipperary, where it's produced by Cooleney Farm. This brie-style cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's fully mature at 8 to 10 weeks. Underneath its white moldy rind, the texture is semi-soft, creamy, and buttery.
The flavors vary because the cheese comes in 3 versions: plain, garlic and dill, and pepper and poppy seeds. It's recommended to pair Dunbarra with sparkling wines and Beaujolais.
Pair with
Lavistown is an Irish caerphilly-style cheese hailing from Stoneyford. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's left to mature from 2 to 8 months. Underneath its natural brushed rind, the texture is semi-hard, dry, firm, and crumbly.
Produced in the shape of millstones, Lavistown is one of the oldest Irish farmhouse cheeses. The flavors are milky, creamy, acidic, tangy, and herbaceous.
Ardrahan is an Irish cheese originating from Kanturk, where it has been produced by the Burns family since the early 1980s. The cheese is made with pasteurized cow's milk coming from Friesian cows. It has a brine-washed rind that hides a smooth and chalky texture of the body underneath it, with pungent and earthy aromas, and nutty, acidic, meaty, smoky, and buttery flavors.
After the brining process, Ardrahan is left to mature for about 4 weeks. It is recommended to pair the cheese with a glass of robust red wine.
Best Irish Cow's Milk Cheese Producers
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022, 2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2019
BEST J. & L. Grubb Ltd. / Cashel Blue Cheeses
Green Pastures (Donegal) is a family-run dairy business located in County Donegal, Ireland, which specializes in producing a variety of cheese products. Their offerings include soft cheeses tailored for the food service industry as well as retail markets.
The company places an emphasis on using local milk to create their cheeses, highlighting the importance of sustainability and supporting the regional farming community. Green Pastures (Donegal) also plays a role in the local economy by providing employment opportunities in the area.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2022

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Green Pastures Cheeses
Sheridans Cheesemongers, established in 1995 by brothers Seamus and Kevin Sheridan, is based in County Meath, Ireland. The company specializes in selling Irish and European artisan cheeses, sourced from both small-scale producers and larger cheese-making operations.
Sheridans Cheesemongers also operates several shops and market stalls across Ireland and has developed a unique partnership with vineyards for pairing cheeses with wines.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023
BEST Sheridans Cheesemongers Cheeses
Green Valley Farm t/a Killowen Yogurt specializes in producing farm-fresh yogurt. The company emphasizes traditional methods and uses milk from its herd of pasture-grazed cows. Killowen Yogurt is known for its commitment to sustainability and high-quality dairy products.
The farm is family-owned and has been in operation for several generations.
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2021
BEST Green Valley Farm T/a Killowen Yogurt Cheeses
Best Irish Cow's Milk Cheeses
Organic Cashel Blue cheese, crafted by J. & L. Grubb Ltd. at Cashel Blue, is Ireland's original artisanal blue cheese. Made using organic cow's milk from their own farm and neighboring farms in County Tipperary, this cheese is known for its rich, creamy texture and distinctive blue veins, which offer a mild yet notable blue flavor that is neither too pungent nor overpowering.
Its production process adheres to strict organic standards, ensuring that no artificial fertilizers or pesticides are used. Launched in 1984, Organic Cashel Blue was a pioneer in the specialty cheese market in Ireland and continues to be recognized both nationally and internationally for its quality and unique character.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
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