2025 Award Winners ‘MEMORABLE MOMENTS’ AWARDS 2025

'MEMORABLE MOMENTS' AWARDS 2025

‘HAPPY PLACE’ AWARD 2025: Café Rua, Castlebar, Co Mayo

Well located near the Linenhall Arts & Exhibition Centre, Café Rua is impossible to miss with its cheerful red frontage – and, since Ann McMahon set it up in the mid-1990s, it has been a beacon of warmth and good food in Castlebar. Today, her son Aran and daughter Colleen oversee the day-to-day running, but Ann is still very much involved, ensuring that the founding spirit remains intact.Inside, the tone is light-hearted and welcoming. It’s not a large space, but the pine tables – some dressed in cheerful red oilcloths – are well spaced, with a good view of the big blackboard menus which showcase the wholesome, home-made dishes that have always been Café Rua’s hallmark, with careful sourcing and seasonality at the core.
Suppliers are proudly credited: farmhouse cheeses from Sheridans, fish from Clarke’s of Ballina, pork from Ketterick’s of Castlebar and Kelly’s of Newport, and vegetables from local organic growers. Macroom stoneground oats appear in comforting porridge in winter, while specials might include potato & lovage soup or Cashel Blue croquettes with beetroot chutney. Children are especially welcome, with a dedicated menu, while luscious desserts – rhubarb trifle, perhaps, or excellent home bakes – provide a sweet conclusion.
A second branch, Rua Deli & Bakery on Spencer Street, adds to the offering – but it is here, at the original, that Café Rua truly shines as Castlebar’s “happy place”.
 

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AWARD 2025: Gregan's Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare

Simple joys like the scent of a turf fire drifting through quiet drawing rooms and the unparalleled views across the Burren have always been the things that make Gregans Castle Hotel an unforgettable destination. A quietly luxurious country house hotel combining deep-rooted history with contemporary comfort, it offers a rare kind of hospitality that lingers long in the memory. The present house, dating from the 18th century, stands on a site first occupied by the O’Loughlen clan, the Burren’s ruling family for centuries. Today, surrounded by trees and gardens in striking contrast to the starkly mysterious limestone landscape, Simon and Freddie Haden’s vision has carried the house into a new era without losing its distinctive soul. Freddie’s thoughtful eye has blended antique furniture, Irish art and gentle modern touches to create a serene and elegant atmosphere, while spacious bedrooms – many with sweeping Burren views – are luxuriously understated and free of television, encouraging quiet enjoyment of the surroundings. Hospitality is warm, with a genuine welcome extended to guests – including dogs, who may stay in some ground floor rooms. Dining is also at the heart of the Gregans experience and Head Chef Jonathan Farrell’s evocative and beautifully executed menus are inspired by the landscape and its artisan producers and their own organic kitchen gardens, which blend almost magically into the surrounding landscape. A morning walk to see what’s growing here and breathe in the atmosphere makes a wonderful start to the day – and, if you’re lucky enough to visit in late spring or early summer you may have the magically haunting call of the cuckoo to accompany you on your way. Gregans Castle captures the spirit of the Burren – rugged, beautiful, and steeped in history – and transforms it into a uniquely memorable hospitality experience.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2025: Dunluce Lodge, Portrush, Co Antrim

On the spectacular North Antrim coast, just outside Portrush, 5-star Dunluce Lodge hit the ground running when it launched just ahead of The Open at Royal Portush in 2025 - and wasted no time in establishing itself as one of Ireland's most exciting new destinations. Overlooking the Atlantic and the rugged headland crowned by Dunluce Castle, its setting could hardly be more dramatic – and this special sense of place is at the heart of everything it offers. The classic contemporary design takes full advantage of the sweeping views, while natural tones and local materials make for relaxing interiors and the blend of understated luxury with a genuine welcome has made Dunluce Lodge a retreat where guests feel both indulged and at ease. Accommodation is quietly luxurious and good food is central to the experience, with the finest local produce showcased in elegant yet unfussy menus. A celebration of the North Coast's larder, the emphasis is on seasonality, provenance and flavour - and service is exemplary too. Warm and attentive without ever being overbearing, staff create a sense of ease that encourages guests to linger. With its unique location, refined hospitality and special food, Dunluce Lodge is setting a new benchmark for Irish coastal retreats.

GASTRO-PUB OF THE YEAR 2025: The Strand Cahore, Gorey, Co Wexford

Dating back to 1893 and the only pub in Cahore, The Strand is in a spectacular setting overlooking the beach and pier at Cahore Point, with sweeping views north to Wicklow Head. Having been run by the Horgan family for almost eighty years, Aileen and Patrick Hanley took it over in 2018, fulfilling a long-held ambition for the hospitality duo. With backgrounds at the Park Hotel Kenmare and Eccles Hotel Glengarriff, the Hanleys have brought a wealth of experience to this historic property, turning it into one of the country’s most exciting food pubs. And with its large windows and outdoor terraces to make the most of fine days, a cosy bar with a glowing stove and an elegant restaurant at the back providing comfort on cooler evenings The Strand is a place for all seasons. Menus showcase the best of Irish produce, with suppliers proudly named, breads and sauces made daily in-house, and a reputation for superb seafood was quickly established. From moules marinière and Cahore Smokies to Kilmore Quay lobster, the cooking is generous, fresh and full of flavour, while Macamore Buffalo brings a distinctive local speciality. With its sense of place, outstanding food and warm, professional hospitality, The Strand Cahore is a shining example of the modern Irish gastropub – and a must-visit destination when in Wexford.

TRADITIONAL PUB OF THE YEAR 2025: The House of McDonnell, Ballycastle, Co Antrim

A leading light in Ballycastle for its music and craic, The House of McDonnell is one of only a few architecturally protected pubs in Ireland. It was famously in the caring hands of the late Tom and Eileen O’Neill from 1979 until Tom's death in 2018, and in Tom’s mother’s family for many generations before that - they could even tell you not just the year, but the month the pub first opened (April 1766). Tom and Eileen delighted in sharing the history of their long, narrow premises with its tiled floor and mahogany bar: it was once a traditional grocery-bar, and is now a listed building. The only real change in the last hundred years or so, according to Tom, was the addition of a toilet block. There's 'no TV or loud music' but there's always been a good traditional music session every Friday (and perhaps other evenings as well) with musicians welcome to come along and join in. Tom and Eileen rightly took pride in the fact that this is the only old bar in Ballycastle to have resisted ‘refurbishment and makeover’, and now that it's thriving again, you can rest assured that any changes needed by the current incumbent, Brigette, will be completed with a very light touch.

IRISH CRAFT DRINKS AWARD 2025: Walled City Brewery, Derry

The brainchild of James Huey, a qualified diploma brewer who had worked on product development at Guinness for 12 years, this ambitious venture opened just across the Peace Bridge from the Walled City area in 2015 and was the first craft brewery to operate in Derry city centre for over a century. A decade on, the Walled City Brewery is proving a great asset to the city, but it was a brave move at the time as the wonderfully imaginative development of Ebrington Square that is emerging now was little more than an idea at the time. Handsomely located in the old military pay office on Ebrington Square, which dates back to 1890, it has since been joined by the impressive Ebrington Hotel and Spa, next door, and this - plus the gradual arrival of other businesses including the lovely Stitch & Weave bar and restaurant overlooking the Peace Bridge and the Eden-inspired development of the nearby gardens and park - is transforming the area. It is a craft brewery and restaurant in the same building - which was another first for Northern Ireland - and it's not just any old restaurant either. The aim was always to give both locals and tourists a taste of the north-west ‘through crafting local, authentic, premium quality, flavoursome beer and food’ and, with its superb and highly original beer-themed decor and terrific 'local tapas' food to match the beers, this atmospheric bar-restaurant was a destination in itself from the outset. With James’s wife Louise and other relatives involved, the business is a real family act and there is a wealth of knowledge and experience going into the beers – which are continuously evolving and get plenty of well-earned recognition – and the food, which showcases local producers. Other innovative projects include the HomeBrew Academy, an on-site school dedicated to brewing, and numerous experiences. There is always something new in progress at this remarkable place - and, for a complete taste of the region, Walled City Brewery is aa must-visit.

WINE EXPERIENCE AWARD 2025: Daróg Wine Bar, Galway

A first venture for husband-and-wife team Zsolt Lukács and Edel McMahon-Lukács, Darog ('small oak tree') was warmly welcomed when it opened in late 2023. They describe their charming Westside venue as a labour of love and the TLC is tangible. Small but perfectly formed, it is bright and warm, with a wall of wines and simple tables giving it a delightful French feel. With twelve years at Jp McMahon's renowned Aniar Restaurant just across the road under his belt, Zsolt is the wine guru, while Edel (Jp’s sister) has a keen interest in local produce and a background in art and design that is seen in both the decor and their Gallery wall of local artwork. So, together with talented head chef Stiofán Feeney, they make an impressive team - and the vibrant ambience of this little place reflects their collective creativity. While it may not be obvious to guests (who are far more likely to notice only the sheer deliciousness of every bite or sip), sustainability is at the core of what they do here. It informs everything from the everyday running of the business to the drinks lists (including carefully sourced local beers), and of course the food producers - most of whom are very local and highlighted on a wide-ranging supplier list. So, naturally enough, the menu celebrates seasonal and locally-sourced dishes, and there's a particular focus on some gorgeous cheese and charcuterie boards that are perfect for nibbling with wine. The wine list is extensive, featuring Zsolt's carefully curated collection of 'unique wines from small producers off the beaten track', including many natural/organic wines. But, on a more manageable scale for the casual diner, wines for the evening appear (beautifully scripted) on a blackboard at the end of the room - and Zsolt has plenty of great advice on what to choose, while also offering knowledgeable and friendly attention to the food choices too, helpfully explaining each dish and each wine. Wine lovers heaven indeed.