GEORGINA CAMPBELL AWARDS

A Taste of the Best  -
Independent Guide Gives Recognition to Ireland’s Best
Food, Drink & Hospitality

The Georgina Campbell Awards - Ireland’s Original Hospitality Awards!

Representatives of the very best in Irish hospitality gathered at Bord Bia in Dublin today, for the announcement of the 2019 Georgina Campbell Awards. An annual celebration of excellence associated with the trusted Georgina Campbell’s Ireland independent hospitality guides, and Ireland’s longest-established independent hospitality and travel website www.ireland-guide.com, these are Ireland’s longest-running independent food and hospitality awards, and highly respected by the industry.

Anonymous assessments undertaken by Georgina Campbell and her team of experienced assessors are the foundation of these awards. Georgina remarked, "We’ve spent over three decades combing the country in search of the best food and hospitality experiences and each year’s awards result from a distillation of that combined knowledge, together with the new season’s harvest - once again gleaned independently from every county in Ireland.”

Commenting on this year’s Awards, Georgina said “The pace of change, rising standards and the sheer volume of great new businesses opening - especially in Dublin and other cities - has made the selection process tougher than ever this year. But it is always exciting to see newcomers to the hospitality industry who understand the importance of standards and want visitors - domestic and from abroad - to enjoy Irish food and hospitality at its best. And, while the market is getting crowded in some areas, competition from new kids on the block often motivates established businesses to up their game. And, whatever the age or type of business, what we have always looked for is not perfection but real food and hospitality with real heart, and we’re finding it more and more, in clusters of excellence all over the country.”

Georgina Campbell Guides are grateful to Bord Bia, sponsors of the “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Year Award, who kindly hosted the event.

Georgina Campbell, Editor

Georgina Campbell 'Hospitality Hero' Award

• RONAN & JENNIE SWEENEY, Balloo Inns, Killinchy, Co Down

The contribution that Ronan and Jennie Sweeney have made to standards in hospitality, and especially in the casual dining sector, is remarkable. Their ambition, when they took over the famous 19th century coaching inn Balloo House at Killinchy, Co Down, in 2004, was to restore its reputation as one of the finest country dining pubs in Northern Ireland. This they achieved with spectacular success – and it was just the beginning...

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Spirit of the European Region of Gastronomy Award

• HOSPITALITY: THE TWELVE HOTEL, Barna
• FROM THE LAND: BEECHLAWN ORGANIC FARM, Ballinsaloe
• FROM THE SEA: GANNET FISHMONGERS

Achieving Ireland’s first European Region of Gastronomy designation this year has been a huge boost to Galway and the West of Ireland, but it didn’t happen by chance. Behind this great achievement lie many years of preparation and there were three deciding factors: the exceptional quality of local produce; great hospitality (the unique ‘Galway Welcome’); and - crucially - a strong plan for the future, with public, private and knowledge institutions coming together to collaborate.

The SPIRIT OF THE EUROPEAN REGION OF GASTRONOMY AWARD is a vivid illustration of ‘collaboration and working together’ in action, showing how an inspired hospitality business teaming up with the best local food producers and suppliers can create memorable experiences that educate and delight in equal measure. From the dozens of outstanding businesses in Galway and the West of Ireland that are doing great work to achieve these aims, the trio illustrate the point perfectly.

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Hotel of the Year

• ADARE MANOR, Adare, Co Limerick

Just as every capital city needs its great restaurants, every country needs its grand hotels – and it was a very good day for Ireland when one of its most important properties and the former home of the Earls of Dunraven, Adare Manor, came into the caring ownership of Limerick businessman J.P. McManus in 2015. Following extensive and painstaking restoration (‘a love letter to architecture and virtuosity’), this five star resort – which is synonymous with the postcard-pretty village of Adare - re-opened to well-deserved acclaim in November 2017...

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Restaurant of the Year

• THE STRAWBERRY TREE, BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow

In 1999, Evan Doyle and his brothers, Eoin and Bernard, opened what is now the wonderful BrookLodge and Macreddin Village. Today Evan has a fantastic team - headed up at The Strawberry Tree by Chef James Kavanagh - all promoting Irish SeaFoods, Irish FarmFoods and Irish WildFoods to a world that is at last beginning to listen. As Evan states with pride: “each and every menu served at The Strawberry Tree Restaurant has paid homage to the Farmer, the Producer & the Supplier of our Organic Foods.” Simply inspired - a 30th anniversary well worth celebrating.

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Chef of the Year

• JAMES COFFEY, Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry

There is much to admire about those great chefs – and we have a good many of them in Ireland – who are not afraid of being in the public eye and use their profile to highlight important issues, not least the importance of valuing the treasure trove on our doorstep that is our wonderful Irish produce.

But there is another kind of chef in some of our leading kitchens that we don’t hear very much about, because these shy retiring people just focus all their talent and energy on creating the great meals that make for a memorable dining experience. Our Chef of the Year is one of those, a classically trained chef who has quietly led the kitchen team in one of our most famous and well-loved hotels for the past five years, and - backed up by a terrific front of house team – whose superb cooking consistently delights a discerning and appreciative clientèle. So let’s hear it for those gifted chefs who enjoy their kitchen space too much to leave it without a great deal of persuasion.

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"Just Ask!" Restaurant of the Year Award sponsored by Bord Bia

• HOOKED, Sligo, Co Sligo

Named after the meat hooks once used in his father’s traditional butchers shop, Sligo restaurateur Anthony Gray and his wife Ailish have even incorporated the original butchers block in the bar of this atmospheric venue, and some of the old shop's favourite butchery products live on too, through Head Chef Joe McGlynn's menus - including Joe Gray's award winning sausages, which have been faithfully recreated for the restaurant. There's a genuine passion for local food...

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Taste of the Waterways Award

• BARROWS KEEP, Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny

Kilkenny or Carlow, take your pick - the picturesque twinned riverside villages of Tinnahinch and Graiguenamanagh (known jointly as 'Graigue' and generally attributed to Kilkenny) flank the old arched bridge across the River Barrow at this historic place - and one of its most recently settled treasures is the serenely atmospheric Barrows Keep. It's owned by Stephen McArdle and Morgan VanderKamer. “Our goal at Barrows Keep has been to source as locally as possible and, where possible, organically. We consistently focus on small producers who are making a stamp on the local area. We strive to work seasonally and feature produce on our menus that reflects the season’s offerings.”

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Seafood Restaurant of the Year

• THE SEAFOOD CAFÉ by Niall Sabongi, Temple Bar, Dublin

Perhaps the location seems unlikely, but a compact corner café in the shadow of the old Central Bank is home to one of Dublin’s most forward-looking seafood restaurants. Raising the standard of fish and shellfish in Ireland, The Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi continues the creativity and quest for quality established by the popular chef at his other venues - the nearby Klaw, and Poké by Niall Sabongi across the river - and is supplied by his own wholesale company, Sustainable Seafood Ireland. Given the small space, the menu is lengthy, and imaginative...

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Outstanding Guest Experience of the Year

• TIG CONGAILE, Inis Meain, Co Galway

Ireland’s offshore islands are keenly sought-after destinations these days, loved for their other worldliness and sense of continuity with an almost forgotten way of life – and they can offer some famous places to eat and stay in the tourism mix. But sometimes the  simpler and longer-established places can provide an especially memorable experience. Sitting outside on a fine day, the peace and the view make Vilma and Padric Conneely’s Inis Meain restaurant and accommodation feel like the best spot on the island...

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Host of the Year

• JOHN EDWARD JOYCE, The Mustard Seed, Ballingarry, Co Limerick

Times change and life moves on, a fact that can be hard to accept for regular guests when a much-loved host decides to retire - but there were no such worries at this wonderful country house and restaurant when the time came for a change of guard. Established in 1985 as a restaurant by that great Limerick hotelier, Dan Mullane, The Mustard Seed started life in Adare and later moved just ten minutes drive away to Echo Lodge, a spacious Victorian hideaway set on seven acres of lovely gardens, with mature trees, shrubberies, kitchen garden and orchard - and very luxurious accommodation. Deciding to retire in 2016, Dan passed the baton to long time manager, John Edward Joyce, and this magical hideaway could not be in safer hands...

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Business Hotel of the Year

• THE MARKER, Dublin

Overlooking the Grand Canal Basin, this Manuel Aires Mateus designed building is Dublin city’s most striking modern hotel – and, despite having the attention-grabbing Bord Gais Energy Theatre as a neighbour, it holds its own as a landmark building. The location and outstanding amenities - including a fabulous rooftop bar, a Spa with 23-metre infinity pool and what may well be Dublin’s most appealing Presidential Suite -ensure its popularity as a leisure destination, but this luxurious hotel is also one of the capital’s most desirable places to do business...

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Wine Award of the Year

• WHELEHANS WINES, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin

The hospitality gene is happily prevalent in Ireland - and at its very best when it coincides with the oenology gene, as it most certainly does at the former Silver Tassie, off the N11. Here wine industry veteran David Whelehan (son of the legendary ‘TP’) leads an impressive team, including sommelier Martina Delaney and chef Nick Clapham, at his temple to great wine and food...

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Pub & Atmospheric Venue of the Year

• POT DUGGANS, Ennistymon, Co Clare

Imaginatively converting an old pub, forge and cow byre - and focusing on freshness, flavour and simplicity in the kitchen - put Dublin publican Trev O’Shea’s latest venture, Pot Duggans, firmly on the map from the get-go. While it may be very simple, there is a strong Ballymaloe-influenced kitchen team in place and the mainly local and seasonal food that they offer is oh-so-delicious...

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Newcomer of the Year

• THE FOYLE HOTEL, by Chef Brian McDermott, Moville, Co Donegal

A wide main street lined with impressive Victorian buildings hints at the significant history of this handsome town on the shores of Lough Foyle. Once a port used by transatlantic travellers, it now plays a more relaxed role as a northern stop-off on the 1,700 mile Wild Atlantic Way driving route - and the Foyle Hotel by Chef Brian Mc Dermott will be first port of call for many...

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Family Friendly Restaurant of the Year

• MICHAEL'S, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin

Dry-aged steaks and top quality Irish seafood feature strongly at this much-loved neighbourhood restaurant, where fresh, honest food has long been the backbone - and owner-chef Gareth Smith’s enthusiasm for good food and big flavours wins over all diners, including juniors.

It's a very family-friendly place, with colouring sheets and crayons to keep little hands busy and the staff are wonderful with children. And kids enjoy going up to the pass to chat to Gareth too - he makes them feel welcome and special here and may even bring them into the kitchen to try their hand at cooking (and maybe even out on a fishing trip, but that’s another story)...

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Pet Friendly Destination of the Year

• 360 COOKHOUSE, Dungarvan, Co Waterford

From the imaginative decor and great staff to the exciting cocktail list and varied fare on offer throughout the week, the Pettit family's smart-casual restaurant is a fun addition to the quality dining options in Dungarvan town. It’s a real come-on-in kind of place with welcoming climbing jasmine plants flanking the front door and menus on display - including a special one for your four-legged friend, which is bound to catch every dog-lover's eye - and, once you walk through the door, it just goes on getting better...

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Hideaway of the Year

• DUNNANELLY COUNTRY HOUSE, Crossgar, Co Down

Although it is just three miles from Downpatrick, Sally King’s gorgeous Georgian-style house lies secluded in gardens, fields and woodland, with views of the Mourne Mountains to the south. Offering all the benefits of a Georgian house with the comfort of mod cons too, it would make a wonderful base for experiencing the St Patrick Story and exploring this beautiful county...

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Atmospheric Restaurant of the Year

• WALLED CITY BREWERY, Derry - Londonderry

Launched at the Culturetech Craft Beer Festival in 2014, owner and master brewer James Huey’s venture is an ambitious one and the first craft brewery in the city centre for over 100 years.

Handsomely located in the old military pay office on Ebrington Square, which dates back to 1890, this is a craft brewery and restaurant in the same building – which is another first for Northern Ireland. And, with its original beer- themed decor and terrific ‘local tapas’ food to match the beers (all thanks to talented family members), the atmospheric bar-restaurant is a destination in itself. For a complete taste of Northern Ireland, Walled City Brewery is a must-visit.

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Ethnic Restaurant of the Year

• ICHIGO ICHIE, Cork

Loosely translated as 'once in a lifetime', ichigo ichie offers Kaiseki, a traditional seasonal tasting menu consisting of a series of beautiful dishes. A particular highlight is the cold dishes - sashim, sushi - which are prepared and artistically arranged with great precision at Takashi's Kappou Counter in full view of a lucky few seated at the counter, who also get to interact with the great man himself... 

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Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

• NASH 19, Cork

Home from home for its many loyal customers since 1991, Claire Nash’s bustling city centre restaurant is just a stone’s throw from the English Market – the source of much of the local and indigenous produce they are known for, including vegetables, fresh sustainable catches and meats. 

‘Simple food cooked honestly’ is their mantra, and it’s a very child friendly place too, offering proper wholesome meals for little ones. In Claire Nash's own words 'We simply love our food!' - and it shows...

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Café of the Year

• JACK FENN’S COURTYARD CAFÉ, Belleek Castle, Ballina, Co Mayo

In 2018 this gorgeous new café opened in the old stone courtyard adjacent to the castle and - not surprisingly, considering the atmospheric surroundings, great food, friendly staff and outdoor seating - it was a runaway success from day one...

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Street Food Award

• MISUNDERSTOOD HERON, near Leenane, Killary Harbour, Co Galway

The wacky name is a hint of the thinking behind Reinaldo Seco and Kim Young's beautifully located food truck overlooking Killary Harbour in Connemara. While the setting is remote it's hard to miss when you're travelling along the N59, as it's set up in the carpark of the Young family's Killary Adventure Centre, just west of Leenane, with picnic tables and benches around it where hungry travellers can make the most of the stunnning views.

Take a closer look at the rustic food truck and you'll find the food philosophy - Fresh, Local, Never Conventional - stated simply alongside a blackboard menu that promises a host of local treats...

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Natural Food Award

• DRUMANILRA FARM KITCHEN, Boyle, Co Roscommon

Drumanilra Farm Kitchen is just one part of a wonderful family enterprise. On their mixed 40 acre organic farm overlooking Lough Key, Liam and Justina Gavin and their young family are living ‘The Good Life’, raising rare and heritage breeds outdoors.

The Farm Kitchen is the 'settled' home of their original Shepherd's Hut food truck and it's an unusual and family friendly place to enjoy good, simple food...

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Country House of the Year

• CLONGANNY HOUSE, Ballygarrett, Co Wexford

Just south of Gorey lies an unusual Georgian gem offering luxurious country house accommodation - and fine dining with a distinctly French flavour. Former restaurateurs Philippe Brilliant and his wife Brona opened Cloganny House as a quiet destination for adult guests in 2015.

An excellent breakfast is served in the main house, but the trump card is dinner, which is available by arrangement and features a range of Philippe’s delicious signature French dishes - and, of course, a good (mainly French) wine list to accompany. Superb!

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Guesthouse of the Year

• BLACKWELL HOUSE, Scarva, Co Armagh

Complimentary cream tea for guests arriving between 3 and 4pm is just one of the nice little extras offered by Stephen and Joyce Brownlees at their splendid guesthouse near Banbridge.

Open since 2014, it’s set in lovely rolling drumlin country on the Armagh-Down border, and makes a great base for exploring a wide area - including Belfast and Dublin which are both easily accessible for day visits...

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B&B of the Year

• THE CASTLE, Castletownshend, Co Cork

No ordinary B&B, the Townshend family’s fascinating and beautifully located castellated property opened for guests as a boutique B&B in 2016, offering a unique opportunity to stay in one of Ireland’s most interesting historic houses.

Its been in the family for 11 generations and much of the original furniture, portraits and oak panelling still remain, so its character is intact, and the guest rooms are elegant and very comfortably furnished, with individually styled en-suite bathrooms. And, ah, there’s the view from your bed…!

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