2015 Award Winners

  • Bill & Isabelle Kelly
    Bill & Isablle Kelly
    The contribution that the Kelly family has made to Irish hospitality is extraordinary and, with its special brand of relaxed professionalism, their renowned beachside hotel sums up all that is b ...
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    • Beech Hill House Hotel
      Beech Hill House Hotel, Derry/Londonderry
      Irish hotels, North and South, have taken a terrible hammering over the last few years, but as long as we have great independent hoteliers an important aspect of this country’s unique appeal ...
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      • Kai Restaurant, Galway
        Kai Café & Restaurant, Galway
        As has become very clear over the last few years, excellence in restaurants is not confined to fine dining - although we have had many outstanding ‘fine dining’ meals this year, includ ...
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        • Derek Creagh
          Derek Creagh, Harry's Restaurant, Bridgend, Co Donegal
          Great ingredients have always been the essential foundation for great meals – the celebrated French chef Paul Bocuse called them ‘the building blocks of good cooking’- and our be ...
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          • Kate Lawlor of No. 5 Fenn's Quay Restaurant, Cork
            No. 5 Fenn's Quay Restaurant, Cork
             “Just Ask!” is a public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers when eating out to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes fro ...
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            • Mitchell's Restaurant, Clifden, Co Galway
              Mitchell's Restaurant, Clifden, Co Galway
              Although we eat less fish at home than might be expected for an island nation, everybody – whether living in Ireland or just visiting - seems to love seafood when eating out, so it’s a ...
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              • Frankie Mallon, An Port Mór Restaurant, Westport, Co Mayo
                Frankie Mallon, An Port Mór Restaurant, Westport, Co Mayo
                Great seafood cookery takes a special expertise - and a growing number of talented Irish chefs are happy to take up the challenge Frankie Mallon’s restaurant may be named as a reminder of ...
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                • Blairscove House & Restaurant, Durrus, Co Cork
                  Blairscove House & Restaurant, Durrus, Co Cork
                  What makes a great hospitality experience? This is one of the places you might try visiting, to find out. We have been visiting Philippe and Sabine De Mey’s beautiful waterside Georgian pr ...
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                  • Síle Gorman, Gorman's Clifftop House, Dingle, Co Kerry
                    Síle Gorman, Gorman's Clifftop House, Dingle, Co Kerry
                    We should never be complacent about how others see us, but each time a visitor satisfaction survey is published the results are the same, with Ireland’s wonderful scenery (still impressive, ...
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                    • Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin 4
                      Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin 4
                      While other guides tend to be focused solely on the leisure market, we have always taken the needs of business guests into account when making our selections, and we appreciate the value of busine ...
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                      • L'Atitude 51 Wine Café, Cork
                        L'Atitude 51 Wine Café, Cork
                        This is the only category of our Awards for which we encourage applications. While we also take note of other outstanding wine offerings encountered on our travels, interested establishments may s ...
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                        • The Long Dock, Carrigaholt, Co Clare
                          The Long Dock, Carrigaholt, Co Clare
                          Irish pubs may be going through a challenging time, but visitor surveys repeatedly reveal that the pub experience is one of the highlights of a visit to this country for visitors from abroad, who ...
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                          • Harry's Shack, Portstewart, Co Derry
                            Harry's Shack, Portstewart, Co Derry
                            This is always one of our most hotly-contested wards – by which we mean that the ‘short list’ is anything but - and how could it be otherwise when the businesses under considerat ...
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                            • l'Officina, Kildare Village, Co Kildare
                              l'Officina, Kildare Village, Co Kildare
                              Family-friendliness is increasingly important in Irish hospitality and our Family Friendly award is more highly valued each year, as times change. We look for the places that cater especially well ...
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                              • Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
                                Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
                                At a time when it is vital to find creative ways to attract new business, Ireland is missing a trick when it comes to pet friendliness. We lag way behind our UK neighbours in this – a market ...
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                                • Red Cliff Lodge, Spanish Point, Co Clare
                                  Red Cliff Lodge, Spanish Point, Co Clare
                                  Everyone loves the idea of a hideaway, and this is one of our most popular awards. Whether it’s the establishments itself which offers that sense of privacy and seclusion, or its location, t ...
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                                  • Allo's Bar & Bistro, Listowel, Co Kerry
                                    Allo's Bar & Bistro, Listowel, Co Kerry
                                    The leading restaurants in major cities, and their chefs, tend to hog the spotlight at awards and, while the size of the population means more top rank establishments to choose from, excellence is ...
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                                    • Brabazon Restaurant, Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath
                                      Brabazon Restaurant, Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath
                                      Irish diners place a high premium on atmosphere – often rating it even above the quality of food when choosing where to eat out – but this restaurant, although certainly atmospheric, h ...
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                                      • Asian Tea House Restaurant, Galway
                                        Asian Tea House Restaurant, Galway
                                        There has been an ‘Ethnic Restaurant’ category in our awards since their inception in the early ‘90s. Originally interpreted as ‘oriental’, it now reflects the divers ...
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                                        • Garden Tea Room, Perryville House, Kinsale, Co Cork
                                          Garden Tea Room, Perryville House, Kinsale, Co Cork
                                          This award gives recognition to the best of those valuable all-day operations – usually small and owner-run – which not only lift the visitor’s spirits in a flash, but also the r ...
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                                          • Firehouse Bakery & Bread School, Delgany, Co Wicklow and Heir Island, Co Cork
                                            Firehouse Bakery & Bread School, Delgany, Co Wicklow and Heir Island, Co Cork
                                            The Guide has always championed the best of Irish produce. It’s the philosophy behind our food recommendations and the Natural Food Award has emphasised this for many years, by celebrating p ...
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                                            • Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath
                                              Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath
                                              For an example of what sheer determination, hard work - and talent - can do to transform a dilapidated property into one of Ireland’s most desirable country house destinations, you won&rsquo ...
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                                              • Blindgate House, Kinsale, Co Cork
                                                Blindgate House, Kinsale, Co Cork
                                                What makes a great guesthouse? Well it’s different strokes for different folks but - in a popular and densely packed little holiday town - a quiet location with private parking is a pretty g ...
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                                                • St John’s House, Lecarrow, Co Roscommon
                                                  St John's House, Lecarrow, Co Roscommon
                                                  A short drive from the village of Lecarrow you will find what may well be Roscommon’s - no, make that Ireland’s - best kept secret, in a beautiful rural waterside location overlooking ...
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                                                  • Lough Owel Lodge, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
                                                    Lough Owel Lodge, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
                                                    The idea of a farm stay is heaven to many visitors to Ireland, and to families living in cities. You won’t get more homely than this beautifully located farm overlooking Lough Owel, which ha ...
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