Monday, May 20th – The All-Ireland final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2024 took place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road on Monday where almost 1,200 of the Irish hospitality industry’s owners, chefs, managers and staff gathered to crown the best establishments from across the country.

Cork restaurants emerged as the big winners on the night with Dede at the Custom House Baltimore named Best Restaurant at the event while Aishling Moore of Goldie was crowned Best Chef.

In total, this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards – the 15th year of the Awards – received over 160,000 public nominations for restaurants, cafés and other food services establishments across the country – the highest number yet.

Nominations were made by the public through The Irish Times website, the Irish Restaurant Awards’ media partner.

Over the past few months, regional events were held in Kilkenny, Kerry, Mayo and Armagh where county winners across various categories were announced. The overall All-Ireland winners were chosen from these local winners.

Speaking at the event, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said:

“During these undoubtedly tough times for our industry, celebrating Ireland’s food and hospitality offering is as crucial as ever. Above all, the Awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work of Ireland’s talented restaurant, café and food-led hospitality staff.

“These Awards highlight the resilience and innovation in our food industry. Behind every great dish is a team of individuals committed to creating memorable dining experiences.

“As ever, this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards showcased the very best of the region’s culinary talent. I would personally like to extend my congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their dedication and passion.”

Each year, funds are raised for a chosen charity at the All-Ireland final of the Irish Restaurant Awards. This year, substantial funds were raised for the Irish Kidney Association.

Carol Moore, CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, said:

“We are delighted to be selected as the event’s charity partner and enjoyed attending the Gala Awards dinner, where almost 1,200 people attended what was a very entertaining evening.

“Not only were a substantial amount of funds raised but awareness of the need for more organ donors and the need to screen for kidney disease were highlighted.”

Please find below the list of this year’s winners:

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by San Miguel

Leinster: Clashganny House Restaurant

Ulster: Macnean House & Restaurant

Munster: Dede at the Custom House Baltimore

Connaught: Eala Bhán

Dublin: Chapter One Restaurant

All Ireland: Dede at the Custom House Baltimore

Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Food Service

Leinster: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate

Ulster: Ciaran Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box

Munster: Aishling Moore, Goldie

Connaught: Danny Africano, Lignum

Dublin: Eric Matthews, Kicky’s

All Ireland: Aishling Moore, Goldie

Outstanding Achievement Award – Sponsored by istil.38

TJ O’Connor

Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Elavon

Leinster: Kasia Urban, Bramley Abbeyleix

Ulster: Anne Cannon, La Bella Donna Restaurant

Munster: Dermot Fetton, Earl of Thomond Restaurant at Dromoland Castle Hotel

Connaught: Gabriel Camburu, Buffalo Boy

Dublin: Prateek Vikram, China Sichuan Restaurant

All Ireland: Prateek Vikram, China Sichuan Restaurant

Employee Excellence Award – Sponsored by Peninsula

Leinster: Sophie Hogan, Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe

Ulster: Liam McKenna, Armagh City Hotel

Munster: Shane Gater, Mezze

Connaught: Catalina Gabriela Caltun, 56 Central Restaurant Cafe

Dublin: Lisa Freeley, Roly’s Bistro and Cafe

All Ireland: Sophie Hogan, Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by Frylite

Leinster: The Morrison Room at Carton House

Ulster: Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort

Munster: The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel

Connaught: George V at Ashford Castle

Dublin: The Saddle Room at the Shelbourne

All Ireland: The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel

:

Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Mad March Hare Poitín

Leinster: Begleys Bar

Ulster: The Garrick

Munster: Levis Corner House

Connaught: Freeney’s Bar

Dublin: Anseo

All Ireland: Begleys Bar

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

Leinster: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro

Ulster: The Square Bistro

Munster: Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse

Connaught: The Selkie

Dublin: Osteria Lucio

All Ireland: The Square Bistro

Best Gastropub – Sponsored by Molson Coors

Leinster: The Strand Cahore

Ulster: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box

Munster: Vaughans Anchor Inn

Connaught: The Huntsman Inn

Dublin: Gleesons of Booterstown

All Ireland: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by FBD Insurance

Leinster: Statham’s by Pembroke

Ulster: 28 at the Hollow

Munster: Lagom Restaurant Kenmare

Connaught: Owenmore Restaurant at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel

Dublin: Potager

All Ireland: Lagom Restaurant Kenmare

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Square

Leinster: Tābú

Ulster: Salumeria Mariuccia

Munster: Homestead Cottage

Connaught: Otto Pizza

Dublin: La Gordita

All Ireland: La Gordita

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Bibendum

Leinster: Ristorante Rinuccini

Ulster: Ora Wine and Tapas

Munster: The Dining Room at Park Hotel Kenmare

Connaught: Daróg Wine Bar

Dublin: Ely Wine Bar

All Ireland: Daróg Wine Bar

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen

Leinster: Gralinn

Ulster: Noble

Munster: Aileen’s at Armada Hotel

Connaught: Rusheenduff Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel & Resort

Dublin: Kicky’s

All Ireland: Rusheenduff Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel & Resort

Best Café – Sponsored by Illy

Leinster: Bowe’s Foodhall & Cafe

Ulster: Ursa Minor

Munster: La Alegria Café

Connaught: Rogue & Co Cafe

Dublin: Happy Out x Together Academy

All Ireland: Happy Out x Together Academy

Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by San Pellegrino

Leinster: Sanjay’s Kitchen

Ulster: Chandpur Restaurant

Munster: Ichigo Ichie

Connaught: Funké – Afro Caribbean Restaurant

Dublin: 3 Leaves Blackrock

All Ireland: Ichigo Ichie

Best Sustainable Practices – Sponsored by Familia Torres

Leinster: Mueller and O’Connell Bakery

Ulster: No 14 at the Georgian House

Munster: Killarney Park & Ross Hotel

Connaught: Kai Restaurant

Dublin: Bread 41

All Ireland: Kai Restaurant

Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Diageo

Leinster: Nóinín

Ulster: The Blue Goat

Munster: Rare 1784

Connaught: Builín Blasta Cafe & Bakery

Dublin: Amuri

All Ireland: Rare 1784

Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Flogas

Leinster: Pauline Dunne, Killowen Farm

Ulster: Johnny Mcdowell, Indie Fude

Munster: Siobhán Ní Gháirbhith, St. Tola Goat Cheese Farm

Connaught: Patrick J Rigney, The Shed Distillery

Dublin: Lorraine O’Connor, Muslim Sisters of Eire

All Ireland: Lorraine O’Connor, Muslim Sisters of Eire

Best Cocktail Experience – Monin

Adrian McFadden, The Garden Room at the Merrion Hotel

Food Truck of the Year – Munch’d by Zoma

Misunderstood Heron

Best Learning and Development – Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet

Fota Island Resort

Best Cookery School – Avonmore

The Edward Hayden School of Cookery

Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant – Cashel Blue Cheese

Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club

All sponsors of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024

• Avonmore
• BDO
• Bibendum
• BWG Food Service
• Cashel Blue
• Customer Perceptions
• Diageo
• Elavon
• Familia Torres
• FBD Insurance
• Flogas
• Frylite
• Generation Apprenticeships
• IMRO
• Illy
• Ireland’s Blue Book
• Irish Times
• Istil38
• Mad March Hare Poitín
• Molson Coors
• Monin
• Much’d by Zoma
• Musgrave Marketplace
• Peninsula
• Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet
• Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
• San Miguel
• San Pellegrino
• Square

For more information on the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024 visit: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/faqs/

All Images Credit: Paul Sherwood

For media queries contact adam@rai.ie or (01)6779901.