2019 Award Winners

  • Dunnanelly
    Dunnanelly Country House, Crossgar, Co Down
    Everyone loves the idea of a hideaway, and this is one of our most popular awards. Whether it’s the establishments itself which offers that sense of privacy and seclusion, or its location, t ...
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    • Balloo
      Ronan & Jennie Sweeney, Balloo Inns, Killinchy, Co Down
      A special award, given in recognition of the contribution made by exceptional individuals in Irish food & hospitality The contribution that Ronan and Jennie Sweeney have made to standards in ...
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      • 360 Cookhouse
        360 Cookhouse, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
        In Ireland we lag way behind our UK neighbours when it comes to pet friendliness; if you google an area in Britain looking for somewhere to stay, chances are that pet friendly options will pop str ...
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        • Michaels
          Michael's, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin
          Family-friendliness is increasingly important in Irish hospitality and our Family Friendly award is more highly valued each year, as times change and people assume the whole family goes pretty muc ...
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          • Foyle
            The Foyle Hotel, Moville, Co Donegal
            This is always one of our most exciting awards … the ‘short list’ is anything but - and how could it be otherwise when the establishments under consideration are all fresh a ...
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            • Pot Duggan
              Pot Duggans, Ennistymon, Co Clare
              While Irish pubs in general are going through a challenging time, the pub experience remains one of the highlights of a visit to this country for visitors from abroad, who love the unique atmosphe ...
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              • Whelehans
                Whelehans Wines, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin
                Craft beers and independent distilleries have been making all the headlines in recent years - and the best ones are very deserving of their success - but they won’t ever replace that special ...
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                • Marker
                  The Marker, Dublin
                  While other guides are focused solely on the leisure market, we have always taken the needs of business guests into account when making our selections. Business tourism is a developing sector in t ...
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                  • Castle
                    The Castle, Castletownshend, Co Cork
                    The true Irish B&B - where genuine hospitality combines with good, simple food and a desire for guests to be really comfortable and have the best possible experience of the area - is an absolu ...
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                    • John Joyce
                      John Edward Joyce, The Mustard Seed, Ballingarry, Co Limerick
                      Every time a visitor satisfaction survey is published the results are the same, with Ireland’s wonderful scenery (still impressive, despite our best efforts over the last decade) and the war ...
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                      • Blackwell
                        Blackwell House, Scarva, Co Armagh
                        Competing with cut price hotels has been no joke for the owners of guesthouses and B&Bs in recent years, but the best have USPs that allow them to thrive regardless of any such challenges - no ...
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                        • Tig Cognaill
                          Tig Congaile, Inis Meain, Co Galway
                          What makes a great hospitality experience? Ireland is blessed with a generous sprinkling of those uniquely satisfying places where beautiful and enriching surroundings combine with an owner who is ...
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                          • Clonganny
                            Clonganny House, Ballygarrett, Co Wexford
                            You can’t beat a real country house for a refreshing short break or to provide a atmospheric setting for special occasions - this house is a pretty special destination itself, and well worth ...
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                            • Seafood cafe
                              The Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi, Temple Bar, Dublin
                              Although we eat less fish at home than might be expected for an island nation, everybody – whether living in Ireland or just visiting - seems to love seafood when eating out, so it’s a ...
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                              • Drumanilra
                                Drumanilra Farm Kitchen, Boyle, Co Roscommon
                                The Guide has always championed the best of Irish produce. It’s the philosophy behind our food recommendations and the Natural Food Award has emphasised this for many years, by celebrating p ...
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                                • Barrows keep
                                  Barrows Keep, Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny
                                  Ireland’s inland waterways are nothing short of a national treasure yet, for most people, they’re very much an adventure waiting to happen. In 1999 GCGuides started an independent Tast ...
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                                  • Misunderstood
                                    Misunderstood Heron, near Leenane, Killary Harbour, Co Galway
                                    Ireland has gone street food crazy lately and there’s some real quality popping up at food trucks and stalls in the most unlikely places, including industrial and business settings as well a ...
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                                    • Hooked
                                      Hooked, Sligo, Co Sligo
                                      “Just Ask!” is a public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers when eating out to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes from, and ...
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                                      • Jack Fenn
                                        Jack Fenn's Courtyard Café, Belleek Castle, Ballina, Co Mayo
                                        This award gives recognition to the best of those valuable all-day operations – usually small and owner-run – which not only lift the visitor’s spirits in a flash, but also the r ...
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                                        • Park
                                          James Coffey, Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
                                          Casual dining may still be the big story but fine dining is far from dead - and, regardless of style, the restaurants that are performing best are those led by people like our Chef of the Year, wh ...
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                                          • Nash
                                            Nash 19, Cork
                                            Our Casual Dining award aims to highlight the quality of (mainly) smaller establishments, especially those serving outstanding daytime food and also ambitious restaurants with an informal style. N ...
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                                            • Strawber
                                              The Strawberry Tree, BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow
                                              At a time when new restaurants are stealing the limelight every month it’s reassuring to know that some of the long-established gems are as delightful, and (at least) as relevant, as the day ...
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                                              • ichigo
                                                ichigo ichie, Cork
                                                There has been an ‘Ethnic Restaurant’ category in our awards since their inception in the early ‘90s. Originally interpreted as ‘oriental’, it now reflects the divers ...
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                                                • Adare
                                                  Adare Manor, Adare, Co Limerick
                                                  As long as we have great independent hotels an important aspect of this country’s unique appeal will be in safe hands. We must treasure them, while we can. Just as every capital city needs ...
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                                                  • Walled city
                                                    Walled City Brewery, Derry, Co Londonderry
                                                    Irish diners place a high premium on atmosphere – often rating it even above the quality of food when choosing where to eat out – but this restaurant, although certainly atmospheric, h ...
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                                                    • Spirit of ERG
                                                      Spirit of the European Region of Gastronomy Award
                                                      Achieving Ireland’s first European Region of Gastronomy designation this year has been a huge boost to Galway and the West of Ireland, but it didn’t happen by chance. Behind this great ...
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