Georgina Campbell's Ireland - The Awards of Excellence 2009

GEORGINA CAMPBELL’S IRELAND…. ‘THE GUIDE’ LAUNCHES FOR 2009
with the announcement of this year’s ‘Awards for Excellence’ Winners including Chef, Restaurant and Pub of the Year 2009.

On October 16th 2008, Georgina Campbell’s Ireland…… ‘the Guide’ 2009, was launched together with the announcement of the winners of the 11th Annual ‘Awards for Excellence’ at a lunch held in Bord Bia's (the Irish Food Board) head office in Dublin 2.

The guide is the by far the most comprehensive critical guide to Irish hospitality available and at only €20 easily the best value, it is available in all good bookshops or online here with free post and packaging. Click here to read more about guide and/or to buy it.

Firmly established as Ireland's longest running independent hospitality Awards, these accolades are much sought after within the industry and can be seen adorning many of the top establishments around the country.

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Press Release     (16th October 2008)             

IRELAND’S MOST INFLUENTIAL HONOURED AT HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY EVENT

Credit Crunch Makes Hospitality Establishments Take Stock

Georgina Campbell launches Ireland – the Guide 2009 & associated Awards

When is a 5* hotel not a 5* hotel – or, for that matter, when is an hotel not an hotel at all? These are among the questions that have been taxing the mind of one of Ireland’s best known food writers and authors, Georgina Campbell, when deciding which establishments should be included in the latest edition of her indispensable hospitality guide, Georgina Campbell’s Ireland – the Guide - and, of course, which wonderful places will make it into this year’s coveted awards list. All was revealed on Thursday October, 16th when Georgina Campbell, launched the 11th edition of Gerogina Campbell’s Ireland the Guide 2009 and associated awards.

Top award winners on the day included: Pearl Brasserie, Dublin (Restaurant of the Year); Richard Corrigan, Bentleys’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Dublin (Chef of the Year); Dromoland Castle, Co.Clare (Hotel of the Year) and Balloo House, Killinchy, Co.Down (Pub of the Year) (full list below).

A Waterways Hospitality Award was introduced this year, adding a new dimension to the Guide, and Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland stated "I am particularly delighted to present this inaugural Taste of the Waterways Award to The Oarsman in Carrick- on Shannon and commend Georgina Campbell for her choice."

Commenting on this year’s winners, Georgina said; “Since the credit crunch started to bite, stiff competition is forcing many establishments to re-evaluate their offerings, to the benefit of guests: with so much choice it is the places offering something special that will thrive – all award winners here today have gone that extra mile, they are the cream of the crop, the brightest and the best, and the Guide is very proud to give them due recognition.” These extremely prestigious awards are seen displayed on the walls of many of the country’s leading establishments.

Bigger and better than ever with full colour images throughout, Georgina Campbell’s Ireland – the Guide is the country’s most famous and comprehensive independent guide to the tourism and hospitality industries in Ireland. Dubbed the ‘glove box bible’, Ireland – the Guide 2009 is bursting with over 1,300 independent reviews and more than 150 new recommendations for 2009.

A treasure trove of information, the aim of the Guide is to lead visitors to the best establishment for their purpose in whatever part of the country they may find themselves. Entries are chosen from a wide range of categories including hotels, restaurants, cafés, pubs, country houses and farmhouses, with choices for all occasions and budgets.

The judging criteria and standard of assessment are very high, with selection made on merit alone. Unlike most other guides, there is no charge for recommendation in any of the Georgina Campbell guide books, and establishments cannot pay their way into the guides. Each year Georgina and her husband – backed up by an expert panel of some of Ireland’s finest food writers and critics, and former chefs/ hoteliers – trawl every county in Ireland to find the best places to eat, drink and stay in Ireland; visits are made anonymously, booked and paid for like any other customer – and selection is made on merit alone.

Commenting on the Guide, Georgina said; “Independent travellers visiting Ireland today will find good food, and standards of accommodation that are surprisingly high in comparison with other countries (our recommended accommodation must be Fáilte Ireland approved). As the wide-ranging entries in the guide show, quality and value are available at all levels. Whether you seek luxurious places to stay, a budget hotel for a practical accommodation solution, a business base, a small but special retreat, a fine meal for a special occasion or a simple bite to eat based on the highest quality local ingredients and speciality foods, the guide has something for everyone.”

Georgina, further commented; “Following a decade of unprecedented growth and prosperity, we in Ireland, like the rest of the world, are facing a sharp reality check. But it’s far from being all doom and gloom. The silver lining to this particular cloud will be found in greater value for money for hard pressed consumers – a big plus in a country berated for being ‘expensive’. Already we’re seeing a return to the core values of Irish hospitality – great quality food and drink and friendly hospitality, a tradition for which the Irish are know all over the world.”


‘the Guide’ and associated awards are sponsored by a number of top companies and institutions including Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Fáilte Ireland , Blue Dragon/Patak's and Waterways Ireland

Click here to view all Award Winners and to read about why they won their award or see below for a list:

HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2009:
Dromoland Castle, Co Clare

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2009:
Pearl Brasserie, Dublin

CHEF OF THE YEAR 2009
Richard Corrigan, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Dublin

PUB OF THE YEAR 2009:
Balloo House, Killinchy, Co Down

BEST USE OF FRESH INFREDIENTS AWARD 2009 sponsored by Bord Bia:
Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge, Ballingarry, Co Limerick

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2009 sponsored by BIM:
O’Connor’s Seafood Restaurant, Bantry, Co Cork

SEAFOOD BAR OF THE YEAR 2009 sponsored by BIM:
The Lobster Pot, Carne, Co Wexford

FOOD EXTRA AWARD 2009 sponsored by Fáilte Ireland:
Longueville House, Mallow, Co Cork
- own farm, fishing, organic gardens, mushroom hunts/foraging, own vineyard & wine, apple brandy, gift preserves & other food gift items.

NATURAL FOOD AWARD 2009 sponsored by Fáilte Ireland:
Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, Co Donegal

HIDEAWAY OF THE YEAR 2009 sponsored by Fáilte Ireland:
Carrig House, Caragh Lake, Co Kerry

WATERWAYS HOSPITALITY AWARD sponsored by Waterways Ireland:
The Oarsman, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim

WINE AWARD OF THE YEAR 2009:
The Twelve, Barna, Co Galway

HOST OF THE YEAR 2009:
John Moriarty, Lord Baker’s, Dingle, Co Kerry

BUSINESS HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2009:
Kingsley Hotel, Cork City

FAMILY FRIENDLY HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2009:
Renvyle House Hotel, Co Galway

ETHNIC RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2009 sponsored by Patak’s / Blue Dragon:
Jaipur Group, Dublin & Wicklow

ATMOSPHERIC RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2009:
Chez Hans, Cashel, Co Tipperary

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2009:
Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford

COUNTRY HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2009:
Ballyvolane House, Fermoy, Co Cork

GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR 2009:
Ard na Bréatha, Donegal Town

B&B OF THE YEAR 2009:
Heron’s Rest, Galway City

FARMHOUSE OF THE YEAR 2009:
Flemingstown House, Kilmallock, Co Limerick


IRISH BREAKFAST AWARDS 2009:

Hotel Breakfast:
Lisloughrey Lodge, Cong, Co Mayo

Country House Breakfast:
Ballyvolane Country House, Fermoy, Co Cork

Guesthouse Breakfast:
Teach de Broc, Ballybunion, Co Kerry

B&B Breakfast:
Heron’s Rest B&B, Galway, Co Galway

NATIONAL WINNER:
Lisloughrey Lodge, Cong, Co Mayo


Ends

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