Our Story
There has been a castle at Glenarm since the 13th century and it is currently owned by Randal McDonnell, Viscount Dunluce.
Until the middle of the eighteenth century the Antrim Estate extended up to Ballycastle and beyond. Now, however, it is limited almost entirely to the land that sits within the walls of the Castle Demesne. Today the Demesne, which was once a deer park, is a working estate consisting of forest, farmland and the Glenarm River.
Over the past 12 years, Glenarm Estate has diversified in order to become more sustainable. Our new enterprises now include game shooting and various events throughout the year.
With respect to our beef, we wanted to explore traditional breeds that would yield a top quality product with a simpler management system compared to the existing continental system.
Bryan Wilson, our Farm Manager, after considerable research, determined that Shorthorn Beef would be the traditional breed best suited for our new project. The meat would have distinct flavour and if properly handled during and after slaughter, could produce beef without equal. It was decided that all continental stock bulls be removed from the herd and replaced with Beef Shorthorn bulls with appropriate estimated breeding values.
We have secured a processing partner in Peter Hannan of Moira-based Hannan Meats. Hannan Meats is as passionate about beef processing as we are about production. This unique partnership ensures that the beef is expertly handled. The feedback from chefs is consistently very good and testament that we are producing an exceptional premium product.
Hannan Meats have introduced a unique dry aging method for Glenarm Shorthorn beef. Their bespoke, humidity and temperature controlled aging chamber, containing a solid wall of Himalayan rock salt bricks results in dry-aged beef with an exceptional flavour.
The translucent blocks were imported from mines in the foothills of the Himalayas in Pakistan's Punjab region. The health and therapeutic benefits of Himalayan salt have been known for centuries, but its benefits in the dry-ageing of meat are only a recent phenomenon. It creates an aged beef with a purity of flavour not often encountered.
What Hannan Meats Say
"There is no doubt that building a brand which actually delivers in terms of integrity, traceability, provenance, exceptional flavour and tenderness, is building for the future."
"Glenarm Shorthorn beef is a premium product, made even more special by innovative aging. Having endorsement by top chefs, and high end retailers such as Fortnum and Mason, positions the product firmly at the top end of the market, and away from the commodity end of the market, which is price driven."
"Whilst it is difficult to put a value on the brand, should there be a collapse for any reason in the beef market, we believe that Glenarm Shorthorn beef will always command a premium price. Similarly, should beef prices continue to rise which is more likely, the returns for farmers within the scheme will be proportionately even greater."
What Our Producers Say
News & Awards
12+
Great Taste Awards
Gold
World Steak Challenge
2017
Farm Manager Bryan Wilson won Beef Farmer of the Year at the Farming Life Danske Bank Awards in Belfast and Beef Innovator of the Year at the British Farming Awards in Birmingham — two outstanding achievements in one night.
2016
Hannan Meats won Supreme Champion at The Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards with Glenarm Shorthorn Beef 4 Rib — a landmark moment for the partnership between Hannan Meats and the Glenarm Estate.
Press
BBC Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins described Glenarm Shorthorn as the finest beef he had ever tasted, following the Great Taste Awards Supreme Champion win for The Meat Merchant.
2013
Two Glenarm Shorthorn products received the ultimate three-star rating, including the Fiorentina T-Bone and salt-aged rack. Fillet and sirloin each earned two stars.
2013
Glenarm Shorthorn Beef won the Food and Value Added category of this prestigious award, co-sponsored by DARD, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal.
2012
Farm Manager Bryan Wilson led Glenarm Estate to this UK accolade, with herds judged on technical and financial management, genetics, herd health, marketing and Beef Shorthorn performance.
2012
Hannan Meats began supplying dry-aged Glenarm Shorthorn beef to Fortnum & Mason in London for its restaurants and catering operations, following the Supreme Champion win at the UK Great Taste Awards.
2012
Glenarm Shorthorn sirloin, fillet and ribeye were each awarded two stars. The Great Taste Awards definition of two stars is that the product must be faultless.
2012
Glenarm Shorthorn sirloin and fillet were both named Champion Steak in their respective categories, with the fillet going on to be named Supreme Champion — the highest points ever recorded in the competition.
Herd
Beef Shorthorn bulls sold to a top of 9,500gns at the society's spring sale in Stirling, as Glenarm continued to invest in pedigree genetics for the herd.