2017 Award Winners HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2017

Harvey's Point, Lough Eske, Co Donegal

 A stunning location, luxurious accommodation (balanced by some very accessibly priced rooms with particular appeal to families and walking groups), a beautifully situated waterside fine dining restaurant - Harvey’s Point has all of those things, and they make it pretty special.

But the real USPs are its people. Dating right back to the time when it opened as a small lakeside lodge in 1989, charming hands-on family management was its secret weapon and that - plus terrific, well trained staff - remains the case today. Nothing is too much trouble to ensure that guests (and their four-legged friends too, by arrangement) get the very most from their stay.

Superb attention to detail and outstanding housekeeping ensure an exceptionally comfortable stay - and pride of place is a key feature too, seen in the excellent food, and also in the abundant and well organised information (including a booklet specially compiled by the hotel) on the best things to see and do in the area.

Donegal is one of Ireland’s most scenic and interesting counties and it has been greatly helped by the supportive role that the Gysling family - and especially Marc Gysing’s wife Deirdre McGlone, who is the dedicated and inspiring General Manager - have adopted in spreading the word and helping to establish the region s a quality destination.

Helpful staff are equally keen to extol the area’s special charms - and, speaking of charm, there is Harvey, the much-loved pet goose, and his feathered friends who gather on the lakeshore at feeding time and add such character to this lovely place in a quirky, but utterly genuine way.