Connaught Regional Awards Winners 2023 Announced
The Connaught Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Sligo Tuesday 28th of March.
Over 600 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Connaught turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.
Speaking at the Connaught Regional Awards President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; “Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record-breaking number of public nominations (over 130,000). This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation of the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it. The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. We are delighted to be here in Sligo for the final of the Regional Events for 2023 and look forward to welcoming all winners in Connaught to the All-Ireland Awards on 15th May.”
Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2023 Innovator of the Year.
All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 15th May in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4. The winners on the night were:
Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times
- Galway – Margaret Leahy, Irish Artisan Food Tours
- Leitrim – Lisa Gifford, Leitrim Hill Creamery
- Mayo – The Calvey Family, Calveys Achill Lamb
- Roscommon – The Allen Family, Castlemine Farm
- Sligo – Prannie Rhatigan, Irish Seaweed Kitchen
Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland
- Galway – The Connacht Hotel
- Leitrim – Lough Rynn Castle
- Mayo – Clare Island Oven
- Roscommon – Benny’s Deli
- Sligo – Milligram Coffee
Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo
- Galway – Lignum
- Leitrim – Honestly Farm Kitchen
- Mayo – Nevins Inn
- Roscommon – Bastion K2tchen
- Sligo – Nook.
Best Free From
- Galway – Greens and Co – Galway City
- Leitrim – Spice India
- Mayo – Servd Westport
- Roscommon – Bastion K2tchen
- Sligo – Shell’s Cafe
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance
- Galway – The Sea Hare
- Leitrim – The Cottage Restaurant
- Mayo – The Pantry and Corkscrew
- Roscommon – Fusion
- Sligo – Bridgefoot House
Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group
- Galway – Gill Carroll, 56 Central
- Leitrim – Deirdre Dolan, Cox’s Steakhouse
- Mayo – Eva Ivanova, Sage
- Roscommon – Audit Navrish, Keenan’s of Tarmonbarry
- Sligo – Orla Donaghy, Coach Lane Restaurant @ Donaghy’s Bar
Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland
- Galway – Sheridans
- Leitrim – The Red Bank Restaurant
- Mayo – No 8 Wine and Tapas
- Roscommon – Kilronan Castle
- Sligo – Branch Cafe & Winebar
Best Café Sponsored by Illy
- Galway – Pota
- Leitrim – Jinny’s Bakery
- Mayo – Rua Cafe & Deli – Castlebar
- Roscommon – Les Petites Tartres
- Sligo – Lyons Cafe
Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino
- Galway – Wa Sushi Wa Cafe
- Leitrim – Di Vino Italian
- Mayo – Olives Seoul Food
- Roscommon – My Kitchen by Sham
- Sligo – Bella & Brava Restaurant
Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square
- Galway – Blackrock Cottage
- Leitrim – The Selkie
- Mayo – Quay West Ballina
- Roscommon – My Kitchen by Sham
- Sligo – Chillin Time
Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni
- Galway – Broderick’s Bar
- Leitrim – Dunne’s Bar
- Mayo – The Old Grainstore
- Roscommon – Coffey’s Lecarrow
- Sligo – Thomas Connolly
Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
- Galway – Hooked – Galway City
- Leitrim – Buffalo Boy
- Mayo – The Creel
- Roscommon – Rogue & Co
- Sligo – Fish & Bean
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite
- Galway – Renvyle House
- Leitrim – The Landmark Hotel
- Mayo – Wildes at the Lodge
- Roscommon – Keenan’s of Tarmonbarry
- Sligo – Waterfront House & Restaurant
Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
- Galway – Park House Hotel
- Leitrim – The Courthouse Restaurant
- Mayo – Knockranny House Hotel
- Roscommon – Regans Restaurant
- Sligo – Vintage Lane Cafe
Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS
- Galway – The Kings Head
- Leitrim – Oarsman
- Mayo – Cronin’s Sheebeen
- Roscommon – Hester’s
- Sligo – Pilot Bar
Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Food Service
- Galway – Jess Murphy, Kai
- Leitrim – John Kelly, Riverbank Restaurant
- Mayo – Barry Ralph, House of Plates
- Roscommon – Ray & Mags O’Connor, The Old Stone House Restaurant
- Sligo – Rafal Chimniak, Eala Bhán
Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel
- Galway – Kai
- Leitrim – The Red Bank Restaurant
- Mayo – Arno’s Bistrot
- Roscommon – The Old Stone House Restaurant
- Sligo – Eala Bhán
Sponsors of this Year’s Irish Restaurant Awards:
- Avonmore
- Bibendum Ireland
- BWG Foodservice
- Diageo
- FBD Insurance
- Frylite
- Gas Networks Ireland
- Halcyon Group
- Illy
- IMRO
- Irish Times
- Monin
- Musgrave Marketplace
- Peninsula
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro
- Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet
- Restaurant-insurance.ie provided by Dolmen
- San Miguel
- San Pellegrino
- Square
- Wild Irish Game
- Worldpay from FIS
More information on the Irish Restaurant Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/faqs/
Official Photographs from the Connaught Regional Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/official-photos-connaught-regional-awards-2023/
All Images Credit: Paul Sherwood
Contact events@rai.ie Phone: (01)6779901
