2026 Award Winners SPECIAL IRISH HOSPITALITY AWARDS 2026

SPECIAL IRISH HOSPITALITY AWARDS 2026

FAMILY FRIENDLY HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2026: Roe Valley Resort Limavady Co Derry
Set in rolling countryside outside Limavady, Roe Valley Resort has the space and facilities that family breaks need, but its appeal goes beyond a checklist. Built around an 18th-century house and now part of the Galgorm Collection, the resort combines a sense of place with the flexibility required when several generations travel together. With 118 bedrooms, including family accommodation, extensive grounds and an 18-hole golf course, there is room to spread out. Leisure facilities include an indoor pool and fitness areas, while the surrounding countryside opens up possibilities for walking and exploring the north coast. And ongoing investment under its new ownership is bringing fresh energy to a property that has long been known as a relaxing place to stay. Outstanding children’s facilities and activities have been added recently including a Kids Activity Zone, Kids Barn, Family Day Passes and Birthday Parties at Roe Valley, making this a major destination for family outings and breaks – and, along with simpler things like a children’s playroom and family-friendly dining that take some of the practical pressure out of travelling with younger guests, it seems that everything has been thought through. Importantly though, the resort can work for adults as well as children: spa, golf and dining ensure that a family holiday does not mean every moment must revolve around the youngest guest. The best family hotels make things easy without making the experience generic and Roe Valley Resort’s combination of space, activities, countryside and warm Northern hospitality makes it a particularly deserving Family Friendly Hotel of the Year.

PET FRIENDLY DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2026: Ocean Sands Hotel Enniscrone Co Sligo
For anyone travelling with a dog, the magnificent five-kilometre beach at Enniscrone is already reason enough to visit, but Ocean Sands Hotel & Spa makes the proposition even better by treating four-legged guests as part of the holiday rather than an inconvenience to be managed. This privately owned four-star hotel overlooks the beach and offers pet-friendly options in selected hotel rooms and self-catering apartments. Most importantly, there is also a designated dog-friendly dining area, allowing guests to enjoy a meal without having to leave their companion behind - a practical detail that makes an enormous difference. Human guests are well looked after too. The hotel has family accommodation, spa facilities and a choice of dining, with chef Marcin Szczodrowski bringing a strong focus on local and quality produce to the kitchen. The beach, sea and surrounding Sligo landscape provide natural attractions a-plenty and great outings. The difference between a place where pets are ‘permitted’ and one where they are welcome is immense. Clear arrangements, suitable accommodation, good walking on the doorstep and the ability to dine together transform a break for dog owners. Ocean Sands clearly understands this particularly well, making it an easy and enjoyable seaside destination for all in the travelling party.

ATMOSPHERIC DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2026: The Blue Goat Ramelton Co Donegal.
Next time you head to Donegal, make sure The Blue Goat is on your Must-Visit list… Right on the quay beside the River Lennon in scenic Ramelton, Des Gallen has not only transformed the original McDaid’s mineral-water building - former home to Donegal’s iconic Football Special - into a stylish food destination, but he’s been at the forefront of the (too) recent restoration work that is gradually transforming the town’s historic river frontage. Des may be remembered from one-time Dublin favourite Gruel, and - along with the building itself and its location - it is his background as a chef and endless enthusiasm for good food that give the place its unique character and an ever-changing sense of purpose. Original features, including the old flagstone floor, comfortably play their part in showcasing a carefully curated and seasonally varied display of Irish artisan food - especially cheese, with many from the region offered and raw milk cheeses a speciality – and a bespoke cheese chamber is a particular delight. Pastries and breads (from Belle’s Kitchen in nearby Rathmullan), wine, chocolate and other treats turn browsing into a wonderfully leisurely business – and, outside, coffee, tea and deli food can be enjoyed at a small seating area, with the river beside you. But it doesn’t end with the food. The Blue Goat is also a place for fresh flowers, handcrafted gifts, art, occasional music sessions upstairs - and accommodation in beautifully tranquil thoughtfully designed waterfront apartments. Ever-evolving, The Blue Goat always offers a sense of discovery. Magic.

HOSTS OF THE YEAR 2026: Aileen and Patrick Hanley The Lansdowne Kenmare Co Kerry
Great hosts make great hotels – somewhere that feels less like a business and more like a place with a pulse. Aileen and Patrick Hanley have demonstrated that quality throughout their careers, and since taking over The Lansdowne Kenmare in January 2024 they have brought their experience, energy and unmistakably personal style to one of the town’s most historic hotels. The move was especially meaningful for Patrick, whose family has long associations with the property, making the acquisition something of a homecoming. The Lansdowne itself dates to 1790 and had already been sensitively restored by the previous owners, the Brennan brothers, formerly of Park Hotel Kenmare next door. The Hanleys are continuing to build on that work, while bringing renewed momentum and a strong hands-on presence. Their success at The Strand Cahore in County Wexford had already shown their instinct for combining excellent Irish food with warm, professional hospitality. In Kenmare, they have inherited a much-loved team and a 28-bedroom hotel with dining, bar and terrace spaces that allow their strengths as hosts to flourish. Hosting is about noticing: the returning guest, the nervous new employee, the local supplier, the small detail that changes an experience. Aileen and Patrick understand that instinctively. For making people feel welcome while confidently leading an evolving historic hotel, they are outstanding Hosts of the Year.

LONG HAUL HERO 2026: Ruth Healy URRU Bandon Co Cork
When Ruth Healy opened URRU (Urban & Rural Irish Food) in Bandon more than two decades ago, the idea of a specialist culinary store in a West Cork market town was far less obvious than it might seem today. Leaving a career in sales and marketing, she created a business whose name reflected the movement between urban and rural life - and, importantly, the flow of good food in both directions. Her brainchild soon became a cook’s shop, deli, café, bookshop and meeting place, bringing together farmhouse cheeses, breads, smoked fish, preserves, pantry ingredients, wines, kitchenware and the work of myriad small Irish producers. In doing so, Ruth has provided not only a valuable outlet for producers, but also an endless source of discoveries for customers, who love the notices she always has around the shop, advising of her latest finds. Her influence has extended beyond the shop as well. Through food-tourism initiatives, producer networks and her wider engagement with Ireland’s food culture, she has consistently argued through action for the value of independent businesses and regional food economies. Longevity in retail is hard won, particularly when a business is built on quality rather than volume, but Ruth has remained true to her original curious, committed and generous in her support of others. For more than twenty years of connecting producers, cooks and customers, she is a true Long Haul Hero.