March 28th, 2024 – COUNTY winners from across the region were announced yesterday at the Irish Restaurant Awards Munster Regional Final 2024 which took place on Wednesday, March 27th in the Great Southern Hotel, county Kerry.

Almost 700 attended the celebration of food and hospitality in Munster on the night.

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.

Once all regional events have been completed and county winners announced, Regional and All Ireland Winners – including in categories such as Best Restaurant and Best Chef – will be revealed at the All Ireland Awards Gala Dinner at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road, Dublin 4 in May.

Ticket and event information will be released in April following Regional Events.

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

“In these challenging times for our industry, it’s more important than ever to celebrate the resilience and innovation of Munster’s food and hospitality sector.

“The Munster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards provide an excellent platform to recognise the hard work and dedication of all of the talented restaurant, café, and food-led hospitality staff in the province.”

Please find below the list of this year’s county winners from across Munster:

Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Flo Gas

• Clare – Siobhán Ní Gháirbhith, St. Tola Goat Cheese Farm
• Cork – Jack McCarthy, McCarthy’s of Kanturk
• Limerick – Finn Robson, Angel Dust Patisserie and Bakery
• Tipperary – Louise O’Connell, The Runnerbean Coffee Shop
• Waterford – Fergal Walsh & Caitríona Keating, Dún Artisan Bakery
• Kerry – Wilma Silvius, Wilma’s Cheese and Farm Shop

Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Diageo

• Clare – Glas Restaurant
• Cork – Rare 1784
• Limerick – Mother Macs Public House
• Tipperary – Rivesci
• Waterford – Zanzibar
• Kerry – 10 Bridge Street

Best Sustainable Practices – Sponsored by Familia Torres

• Clare – The Peppermill
• Cork – Ballymaloe Hotel and Restaurant
• Limerick – Timmy Macs Bistro at Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa
• Tipperary – Bodega 1830
• Waterford – Grow HQ
• Kerry – Killarney Park & Ross Hotel Collection

Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by San Pellegrino

• Clare – Tulsi
• Cork – Ichigo Ichie
• Limerick – Copper & Spice Annacotty
• Tipperary – Saffron Indian Cuisine
• Waterford – Café Goa
• Kerry – Mizu Modern Japanese Cuisine

Best Café – Sponsored by Illy

• Clare – Dodi Café
• Cork – Greenwich
• Limerick – La Cucina Espresso
• Tipperary – Sos Beag Coffee
• Waterford – La Alegria Café
• Kerry – Emilie’s

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

• Clare – Aileen’s at Armada Hotel
• Cork – Da Mirco Osteria Italian Restaurant
• Limerick – The Silver Room Restaurant
• Tipperary – O’Neills Bistro
• Waterford – Molly’s
• Kerry – The Oyster Tavern Tralee

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Bibendum

• Clare – Henry’s Bistro & Wine Bar
• Cork – Arthur Mayne’s Pharmacy
• Limerick – The Copper Room
• Tipperary – Mitchel House
• Waterford – Adega Wine Bar
• Kerry – The Dining Room at Park Hotel Kenmare

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Square

• Clare – Homestead Cottage
• Cork – Church Lane
• Limerick – The Terrace UL
• Tipperary – The Granary
• Waterford – Eamo & Ró
• Kerry – Tango Street Food

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by FBD Insurance

• Clare – Russells Seafood Bar at Fiddle + Bow
• Cork – The Garnish Restaurant at Eccles Hotel & Spa Glengarriff
• Limerick – 1826 Adare
• Tipperary – De Róistes Bar & Restaurant
• Waterford – Everett’s Restaurant
• Kerry – Lagom Restaurant Kenmare

Best Gastropub – Sponsored by Molson Coors

• Clare – Vaughans Anchor Inn
• Cork – Hamlets Bar + Kitchen Kinsale
• Limerick – The Curragower Limerick
• Tipperary – The Cellar Restaurant at Bailey’s Hotel
• Waterford – Geoff’s Bar
• Kerry – Kingstons Boutique Hotel & Pub

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

• Clare – Linnane’s Lobster Bar
• Cork – Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse
• Limerick – House Limerick
• Tipperary – Larkins
• Waterford – The Pier Restaurant
• Kerry – O’Neills The Point Seafood Bar

Pub of the Year

• Clare – O’Loclainn’s Irish Whiskey Bar
• Cork – Levis Corner House
• Limerick – JJ Bowles
• Tipperary – Kickham House
• Waterford – Tully’s Bar Waterford
• Kerry – Murphy’s Bar, Brandon

Employee Excellence Award – Sponsored by Peninsula

• Clare – Martin Garrihy, Russells Seafood Bar at Fiddle + Bow
• Cork – Gerard Roche, The Cove Restaurant at Fota Island Resort
• Limerick – Gary Constable, Collins Bar Dooradoyle
• Tipperary – Aileen Kelly, Bowes & Co.
• Waterford – Shane Gater, Mezze
• Kerry – Mairead McCarthy, The Brasserie at Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Spa

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by Frylite

• Clare – Earl of Thomond Restaurant at Dromoland Castle Hotel
• Cork – Terre Restaurant
• Limerick – The Oak Room at Adare Manor
• Tipperary – The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
• Waterford – House Restaurant
• Kerry – The Falls Restaurant at Sheen Falls Lodge

Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Elavon

• Clare – Dermot Fetton, Earl of Thomond Restaurant at Dromoland Castle Hotel
• Cork – Helen Noonan, Bastion
• Limerick – Liz Phelan, Freddy’s Restaurant
• Tipperary – Catherine O’Donnell, Mani Restaurant
• Waterford – Daniel Zacharewicz, Tannery
• Kerry – Suzi O’Gorman, Kingdom 1795

Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Food Service

• Clare – Robbie McCauley, Homestead Cottage
• Cork – Aishling Moore, Goldie
• Limerick – Derek Fitzpatrick, The East Room Restaurant | Plassey House
• Tipperary – Stephen Hayes, The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
• Waterford – Luis Martin, The Old Couch Café
• Kerry – John Drummond, The Gleneagle Hotel

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by San Miguel

• Clare – Oar Restaurant & Rooms
• Cork – Dede at the Custom House Baltimore
• Limerick – 1826 Adare
• Tipperary – Chez Hans
• Waterford – Momo Restaurant
• Kerry – Kingdom 1795

All sponsors of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024

• Avonmore
• BDO
• Bibendum
• BWG Food Service
• Cashel Blue
• Customer Perceptions
• Diageo
• Elavon
• Familia Torres
• FBD Insurance
• Flo Gas
• Frylite
• Generation Apprenticeships
• IMRO
• Illy
• Ireland’s Blue Book
• Irish Times
• Istil
• Molson Coors
• Monin
• Munch’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/

Official Photographs from the Munster Regional Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/official-photos-munster-regional-awards-2024/

All Images Credit: Paul Sherwood

For media queries contact adam@rai.ie or (01) 677 9901.