When it comes to finding brunch spots, the only scramble we like is in egg form, but getting the best breakfasts in Ireland is becoming something of a competitive sport.
Thankfully, the chase has been narrowed by the 2019 Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards, which were announced in Dublin this week.
The Fumbally Café was awarded the Best Brunch accolade, while John and Francis Brennan snapped up another award for their luxurious Park Hotel Kenmare, winning Best Irish Breakfast in a 5-star hotel.
"A recent Australian survey may have tried to debunk the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but our bodies – and our visitors - know better," Campbell told award winners at a reception at Dublin's InterContinental Hotel.
When it comes to what we're eating, it seems old habits die hard. Super-green omelettes and acai bowls are well and good, but according to respondents to a survey, the full Irish fry up still reigns supreme as the breakfast of champions. According to their answers, the luscious meal still imparts a "holiday feeling".
Celebrating what Irish cooks and homes around the country do best was a theme in this year's awards, as Campbell stated that a well-prepared Irish breakfast, using premium Irish products, is one of the most impressive ways to promote our little island overseas.
How do you like your eggs in the morning! Our wonderful breakfast chef Tracey Collins surrounded by her colleagues marking the occasion of winning @GCsIreland Best 5* Irish Breakfast 2019! pic.twitter.com/c20hnHms09
— Park Hotel Kenmare (@parkkenmare) February 20, 2019
She highlighted that when it comes to building menus, local and seasonal Irish produce is still "often overlooked".
With that in mind, awards were also handed out for Best Irish Breakfast Menu - picked up by Breac. House in Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal - and Best Irish Breakfast Foods, a special category celebrating "hidden heroes" that Campbell feels should be more present on menus.
In that category, Castlemine Farm, Co Roscommon picked up the award for their bacon, so we can call off the search for the best bacon in Ireland.
Celebrated chef Neven Maguire was a special guest at the event and noted how "getting the basics right" were of the highest importance.
"At MacNean House, we put as much emphasis on giving our guests as memorable a food experience for breakfast as the dinner the night before. It is the last meal our guests have before they leave, so we want to make it special."
The awards are held in association with Fáilte Ireland and celebrate Ireland’s best breakfasts, yummiest brunch spots and top Irish breakfast menus for 2019.
Running for three years, the Irish Breakfast Awards are selected by incognito inspectors and honour "the people who strive to make the first meal of the day a particularly special experience for visitors and regulars alike," Campbell says.
For the full list of winners and other highly commended venues, check out the list below!
Best Irish Breakfast: 5-star hotel
- Winner: Park Hotel Kenmare, Kenmare, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford
- Highly Commended: The Merchant Hotel, Belfast
- Highly Commended: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin
- Highly Commended: The Heritage Killenard, Killenard, Co Laois
Best Irish Breakfast: 4-star hotel
- Winner: Marlfield House Hotel, Gorey, Co Wexford
- Highly Commended: Dunraven Arms, Adare, Co Limerick
- Highly Commended: Granville Hotel, Waterford
- Highly Commended: Bushmills Inn, Bushmills, Co Antrim
- Highly Commended: Sheedy’s Hotel, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare
Best Irish Breakfast: 3-star hotel
- Winner: Dingle Benners Hotel, Dingle, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: The Huntsman Inn, Galway, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Aran Islands Hotel, Inis Mór, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Carrygerry Country House, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare
- Highly Commended: Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, Kilkenny
Best Irish Breakfast: Country House
- Winner: Virginia Park Lodge, Virginia, Cavan
- Highly Commended: Rathsallagh House, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow
- Highly Commended: Rosleague Manor, Letterfrack, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Dunnanelly Country House, Co Down
- Highly Commended: Lodge at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo
Best Irish Breakfast: Guest House
- Winner: Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Athlone, Co Westmeath
- Highly Commended: Castlewood House, Dingle, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Killarney Lodge, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Gleesons Townhouse, Roscommon, Co Roscommon
- Highly Commended: Blackwell House, Scarva, Co Armagh
Best Irish Breakfast: B&B
- Winner: Bantry House and Garden, Bantry, Co Cork
- Highly Commended: Shelburne Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Aldridge Lodge, Duncannon, Co Wexford
- Highly Commended: Ardawn House, Galway, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Ghan House, Carlingford, Co Louth
Best Irish Breakfast: Visitor Attraction
- Winner: Hook Lighthouse - Visitor Centre Café, Hook Head, Co Wexford
- Highly Commended: The Castle Café, Blackrock Castle, Cork
- Highly Commended: Lennons@VISUAL, Carlow, Co Carlow
- Highly Commended: The Kitchen, Galway City Museum, Galway
- Highly Commended: Avoca Café, Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co Dublin
Best Irish Breakfast Menu
- Winner: Breac.House, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal
- Highly Commended: Ravenhill Guest House, Belfast
- Highly Commended: King Sitric Restaurant& Accommodation, Howth, Co Dublin
- Highly Commended: Coolanowle Country House & Organic Farm, Co Carlow
- Highly Commended: Viewmount House, Longford, Co Longford
Best Brunch
- Winner: The Fumbally, Fumbally Lane, Dublin City, Co Dublin
- Highly Commended: Nook Café & Restaurant, Collooney, Co Sligo
- Highly Commended: The Green Barn, Burtown House, Co Kildare
- Highly Commended: House of Plates, Castlebar, Co Mayo
- Highly Commended: Brunel’s Restaurant Newcastle Co Down
