2018 Award Winners GEORGINA CAMPBELL 'HOSPITALITY HERO' AWARD 2018

James & Beryl Kearney and Gary O'Hanlon, Viewmount House, Longford, Co Longford

Having quietly restored their lovely Longford property Viewmount House, and created its beautiful gardens over two decades, James and Beryl Kearney, opened VM Restaurant with Head Chef Gary O’Hanlon in 2008 - and took the midlands by storm, quickly making Longford a must-visit destination for food lovers.

Now one of the family and a household name thanks to his determination to take every possible opportunity to promote VM and the food of the locality, Gary is from Donegal - proud source of most of his fresh fish - and has greatly helped this Blue Book property to become not just a special place to stay, but a wonderful introduction to an area that deserves to be better known.

If ever there was an example of how the actions of just a few individuals can make a big difference, this is it. Almost single-handedly, it seems, the Kearneys and Gary O’Hanlon have transformed the popular perception of Longford - and indeed of Ireland’s midlands. A remarkable feat, and one that has a hugely beneficial ripple effect throughout the region.