The Restaurants Association of Ireland  is delighted to introduce the 6th annual Irish Restaurant Awards 2014 in association with the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine.

These awards are the largest and most coveted accolades in the Irish Restaurant Industry. They recognise achievement and excellence in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry throughout the Island of Ireland in 25 categories and celebrate all aspects of the Industry from Chefs and Restaurant Managers, to Restaurants, Cafes and Gastro Pubs, to Food Producers, and Cookery Schools.

The launch of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2014 in association with the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine took place yesterday evening, Wednesday 12^th February, in the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin.

Food bloggers, journalists, sponsors, associate members, the national council of the Association and many more travelled from all four corners of the island of Ireland to raise a glass to the hospitality industry and officially kick off the 2014 Awards season.

Since these Awards started in 2009, the number of nominations have grown and grown. 2013 was a significant year for the Awards as the number of nominations doubled as a result of the transfer to an online nomination process. With almost 10,000 online votes received last year, the total number of nominations is set to break the records once again in 2014.

Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association commented; “Interest in the Irish Restaurant Awards has grown year on year, and as our awards are the only in Ireland to have a Mystery Judge element, we can really stand over the entire process. We are extremely lucky to once again have our media partner, The Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine, on board.

The awards are a celebration in the best of Irish cuisine and recognise the hard work that restaurateurs put in all year round. Restaurateurs are entrepreneurs, and to give them something back for their contribution to the hospitality industry is important. The restaurant industry is the biggest employer within the Irish tourism sector, employing over 64,000 people. They should be proud of that, and celebrate their hard work in the coming months.”

Speaking on the popularity of the Awards, Pádraic Óg Gallagher, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland said, “the Irish Restaurant Awards are the supreme accolade of the restaurant sector, these are the awards everyone wants to win“.

Online nominations open this Sunday, 16^th of February and will close on Friday, 7^th of March via www.independent.ie/irishrestaurantawards. Full information will be published in the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine on the 16^th of February, 23^rd of February and 2^nd of March.