Articles

Fans of the former Lennons Café Bar of Tullow Street in Carlow Town had to wait a long time to enjoy their wholesome food again – but it’s been worth it. Last winter Sinead Byrne and her son Ross, together with some of the old staff, moved into the spanking new Visual Centre for Contemporary Art & the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in the heart of Carlow Town - and both the restaurant itself and the venue that provides its stylish contemporary setting are proving a great asset to the town.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for April is Harrys Bar & Restaurant in Bridgend County Donegal. Donal & Kevin Doherty and Raymond Moran operate this well-run bar and restaurant close to the Derry border with a real passion for the food of the area. There’s nothing they like better than shouting about it, so there won’t be much need for anyone to ‘Just Ask!’ when eating here – although they’ll ‘Just Love It!’ if you do, as their well-informed staff are just as enthusiastic about their food philosophy as they are themselves.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for March is The King Sitric Restaurant, in Howth, Co Dublin. Long before it was popular or profitable to do so (indeed, ever since he opened Howth’s premier restaurant, in 1971) Euro-Toques proprietor-chef Aidan MacManus’s philosophy was to source the best possible local produce and tell his customers about it – and that dedication has never waivered.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for February is Café Rua, in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
When Ann McMahon opened Café Rua on New Antrim Street, Castlebar, in the mid ‘90s there were few enough establishments concentrating on combining quality with simplicity and making the very best foods accessible to all. Today the business is run by Ann’s children Aran and Colleen and, not only has that philosophy of serving ‘uncomplicated food using seasonal and local ingredients’ endured...
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for December is Nash 19 restaurant in Cork. Home from home for its many loyal customers for nearly 20 years, Claire Nash’s bustling city centre restaurant is just a stone’s throw from the English Market – the source of much of the local and indigenous produce they are known for, including vegetables, fresh sustainable catches and meats.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for November is West restaurant, at The Twelve Hotel in Barna, just west of Galway city. A former winner of our annual Wine Award, this contemporary hotel has had quality food at its heart from the outset and their motto “True to The Region, True to The Season” sums up the philosophy which can be seen at work in every aspect of the operation, including their excellent bar food as well as the fine dining restaurant, West.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for October is O'Connell's Restaurant Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Tom O’Connell – a brother of Darina Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School – established this restaurant’s reputation in its former premises nearby (at Bewley’s Hotel) and, as there was a brief hiatus when the hotel changed ownership, fans were delighted when he found a new home for it in the neighbouring D4 Berkeley Hotel (formerly the Berkeley Court).
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for September is Coopershill House at Riverstown Co Sligo. One of the most delightful and superbly comfortable Georgian houses in Ireland, this sturdy granite mansion was built to withstand the rigours of a Sligo winter but it’s a warm and friendly place.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for August is Fiacri Country House Restaurant & Cookery School, near Roscrea, Co Tipperary, which has been known for its good food since it was set up by Enda and Ailish Hennessy in 1997 and attracts regular customers from a wide area.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for July is Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, Co Donegal, a gracious nineteenth century house set in lovely gardens on the shores of Lough Swilly which has been run as a country house hotel by the Wheeler family since 1961, and is currently under the energetic management of William and Mark Wheeler, and their wives Yvonne and Mary.
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