Last Friday evening, when Fallon Moore announced Arán Bakery & Bistro in Kilkenny as the Blas na hÉireann supreme champions, a roar erupted, spilling out onto the streets of Dingle. I propped my phone up to watch Nicole Server-Pawlukojc and Bart Pawlukojc making Irish food history as the only producers to win supreme champion twice.

In that moment, I wished I was there among the food community of Ireland for Blas weekend, aka the food Oscars of Ireland. Alas, this Mammy had a more important event to organise: a Spiderman-themed four-year-old’s birthday party. But Janine Kennedy and Pat O’Toole were there representing the Irish Farmers Journal. The talk of the town, they said, was the farmer protests taking place outside Sole restaurant in Dublin, prompted by the Irish Times review written by Corinna Hardgrave. “I’m in shock – €35 for chicken supreme using non-free-range Dutch chicken,” was Corinna’s headline, which later led her to detail that the restaurant is “co-owned by seasoned operator Padraic O’Kane and Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin”.

It is unfortunate that the chair has once again attracted such attention. Last weekend, the only food story should have been about the wonderful work of Irish food producers, many of whom will credit Bord Bia for its significant support.

But Corinna’s piece, like all her restaurant reviews, was fair and factual, and I doubt that even she could have envisaged the action that would result from her words.

For any journalist, that’s what you’d call a career-defining moment. And so it was a complete shock when we learned that those words would be some of her last. Sadly, Corinna Hardgrave passed away suddenly on Monday.

For Irish food writing, Corinna is an immense loss. You’d follow her around the country based on her reviews; she celebrated good hospitality and excellent food but was never afraid to call out establishments that didn’t meet the mark in her eyes, whether that was poor service, pumped-up prices or underwhelming meals. She was truly a talented writer and a skilled restaurant critic.

For any journalist, that’s what you’d call a career-defining moment. And so it was a complete shock when we learned that those words would be some of her last. Sadly, Corinna Hardgrave passed away suddenly on Monday

On a personal note, Corinna was great company. We first met a few years ago on a trip to Spain. We bonded over glasses of Albariño and a shared love of padrón peppers, wandering around the markets in Santiago de Compostela. We later became neighbours and often shared taxis home after food events or award ceremonies, indulging in our own uncensored restaurant reviews. I’ll miss those chats. We send our sincere condolences to her husband Steve and their daughters, Katherine and Isabelle.

Women with strong voices brings me to our Women & Agriculture conference, supported by FBD Insurance, which takes place on 29 October in Cork. This year, our keynote speaker will be Anna May McHugh. She was appointed managing director of the National Ploughing Association in 1973 – this was the same year the marriage ban was removed. It will be a fascinating conversation looking back on her career.

Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather has shifted the dial for farmers in terms of tracking the weather.

Finally, we’re delighted to announce John Creedon will be joining us. He’ll be discussing his new book, This Boy’s Voice, his many years on the radio, as well as his much-loved shows touring Ireland. For more information on buying tickets, which are selling fast.