2022 Award Winners TASTE OF THE WATERWAYS AWARDS 2022

Taste of the Waterways Award 2022

HOTEL: Lakeside Hotel & Leisure Centre Ballina Killaloe Co Clare

This beautifully located hotel overlooks the River Shannon, with a lovely view down to the famous old 13 arch bridge that joins counties Clare and Tipperary, and the towns of Killaloe and Ballina on either side. It's handy to the town and yet quietly located, with plenty of parking and lovely views from many of the rooms. With a convenient location and good facilities, it has long been the hub of the local community and, no matter when you visit, there is always something going on whether it be a local fund-raiser or a family event. Recent upgrading has included some desirable high-spec adult-only waterfront rooms with private balconies - and there is a very nice feeling about the place, largely down to the very friendly and helpful staff. Special offers include attractive family deals and it would make a good base for a multi-generational family break, with child-friendly leisure facilities, plenty of things to do within walking distance and much of interest to explore in the area.

RESTAURANT: Thyme Restaurant Athlone Co Westmeath

This pleasing and deservedly popular restaurant near the bridge, on the eastern side of the river, is central but it could easily be missed - and that would be a pity as ‘Delicious food at affordable prices’ is the stated aim and it’s something that chef John Coffey and his wife Tara have achieved superbly well ever since opening here in 2007. Celebrating 15 years in business this year, John continues to source ingredients with great care as he has always done, and ensures that everything travels as short a distance as possible - most of the key ingredients on his imaginative, seasonally changing menus are from Athlone and the general midlands area and his ‘Irish, sustainable and fresh’ fish dishes are particularly interesting. Lovely food, beautifully cooked - and the Value Menu is a snip.

PUB: Lock 13 Brewpub Sallins Co Kildare

Prettily set beside the Grand Canal at Sallins harbour, Barry and Ola Flanagan’s inviting pub offers much to entice, including tasty locally focused food, reasonable prices and friendly staff. You’ll find plenty of well-made crowd pleasers (fans travel specially for the chicken wings) and, to complement the carefully prepared food, an outstanding drinks list offers dozens of craft beers, from Ireland and abroad, gins, Irish whiskeys and ‘the best cocktails in County Kildare’ - and, since 2017, they’ve had their own Kildare Brewing Co on site too, making this the county’s original brewpub. An unusual, and enterprising, place - well worth a visit.

CAFÉ: Lough Derg House & The Lake Café Dromineer Co Tipperary
This delightful café with rooms is beautifully located, right beside Dromineer harbour. Declan Collison and Fiona Neilan are old hands in the food and hospitality of the area and nobody knows better how to combine quality and value - if real home cooking is your style, this is the place. Upstairs, the very comfortable and accessibly priced rooms have lovely views over Lough Derg and were recently refurbished to a high standard, with spacious en-suite showers and good amenities, including a drying room for wet gear. Breakfast is served in the café which, with its terrific home baking and superb local Ponaire coffee, is also perfect for a quick morning pick-you-up…