2021 Award Winners TASTE OF THE WATERWAYS AWARDS 2021

TASTE OF THE WATERWAYS AWARDS 2021

HOTEL: Keenans of Tarmonbarry Co Roscommon

No stranger to our Taste of the Waterways awards, this hospitable family-run hotel beside the bridge is a favourite watering hole, known for good wholesome food and cheerful, efficient service – which never faltered at any time during the Covid crisis when opening was permitted. The long established bar is the heart of the business, offering informal meals all day - fish casserole or bacon & cabbage at lunch, half roast duckling for dinner, perhaps (and the steak sandwich is not to be missed). The hotel’s newer Shannonside Restaurant offers a more formal evening dining option in a bright, new tall-windowed room on the waterside corner of the building –and, upstairs, there is smart en-suite accommodation to match.

RESTAURANT: The Red Bank Restaurant Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim

There are plenty of good eating places in Carrick-on-Shannon, but owner Jason Horkan and Chef Michelle McGowan brought something different to the town (and area) area with this impressive restaurant near The Dock Arts Centre. The Red Bank burst onto the scene with aplomb in July 2020 and - despite opening at such a challenging time - it quickly earned a well deserved following for creative cooking with a local feel, lovely service and a special smart-casual ambience. When permissible, it’s enjoyable to look around the building, take in the views over the River Shannon and relax with a drink in the elegant bar or terrace before or after dinner. Michelle's delicious and beautifully presented food has also been served with style in a well constructed outdoor dining area with a real 'restaurant feel' of late, and even in carefully prepared boxes to go - and, despite the exceptional challenges, it is finding its niche very well.

PUB: Larkins Bar & Restaurant Garrykennedy Co Tipperary

Although not as old as it looks, the Boyle family’s charming pub close to the pretty harbour at Garrykennedy has a genuinely traditional ambience and it’s been a Shannon favourite for years. It’s on the must-visit list for many regulars on the river, and it never disappoints. The owners are from farming backgrounds, so the wholesome food offered by current managers, Cillian and Muireann Boyle, and their team is firmly based in the locality, especially the area’s famous meats. You’ll find delicious traditional dishes - beef & Guinness stew, bacon & cabbage, Irish stew - alongside more modern ones, and the service (which is always exceptionally accommodating) has been wonderful during these difficult recent summers, when the spacious outdoor seating area has been a boon. And there’s normally music and Irish dancing to beat the band too!