County winners from across the region of Connaught were announced last night at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final 2024, the second regional final of this year's awards season, which took place at Knockranny House Hotel in Co. Mayo.
Now celebrating its 15th year, the awards are a hotly anticipated event that showcase the best restaurant, cafés, bars and food services establishments that the country has to offer.
Speaking at last night's event, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said:
"Once again, this year’s Connaught Regional Final showcased the unparalleled culinary talent within the province. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their dedication and passion really paying off."
Read more: Leinster's top restaurants & pubs announced at Restaurant Awards
Once all regional events have been completed and county winners announced, Regional and All Ireland Winners will be revealed at the All Ireland Awards Gala Dinner at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in May.
The 2024 county winners from across Connaught are as follows:
Local Food Hero - Sponsored by Flo Gas
- Galway - Kenneth Keavey, Green Earth Organics
- Leitrim - Patrick J Rigney, The Shed Distillery
- Roscommon - Mike Waldron, Waldron Family Meats
- Sligo - Lindy O'Hara, Coopershill Venison
- Mayo - Eddie O'Malley, Jack & Eddie's
Innovator of the Year - Sponsored by Diageo
- Galway - Builín Blasta Cafe & Bakery
- Leitrim - Leitrim Hill Creamery
- Roscommon - Éabha's Street Kitchen
- Sligo - Stoked
- Mayo - Ryan's Food Emporium
Best Sustainable Practices - Sponsored by Familia Torres
- Galway - Kai Restaurant
- Leitrim - Riverbank Restaurant
- Roscommon - Bastion K2tchen Castlerea
- Sligo - Honestly Farm Kitchen Strandhill
- Mayo - Foxford Cafe
Best World Cuisine - Sponsored by San Pellegrino
- Galway - Neo
- Leitrim - The Cottage Restaurant
- Roscommon - My Kitchen by Sham Hanifa
- Sligo - Funké - Afro Caribbean Restaurant
- Mayo - Jalan Jalan
Best Café - Sponsored by Illy
- Galway - Wylde
- Leitrim - Tegi's Tearoom Carrick On Shannon
- Roscommon - Rogue & Co Cafe
- Sligo - Vintage Lane Cafe
- Mayo - Postbox Coffee
Best Customer Service - Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
- Galway - Rusheenduff Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel & Resort
- Leitrim - Dartry Cafe
- Roscommon - Bastion K2tchen Castlerea
- Sligo - Lyons Café and Bakeshop
- Mayo - La Fougère Restaurant Westport at Knockranny
Best Wine Experience - Sponsored by Bibendum
- Galway - Daróg Wine Bar
- Leitrim - The Sandstone Restaurant at Lough Rynn Castle
- Roscommon - The Old Stone House Restaurant Roscommon
- Sligo - Hargadon Bros
- Mayo - The Gallery Cafe, Wine & Tapas Bar
Best Newcomer - Sponsored by Square
- Galway - The Willow Tree Restaurant Clifden
- Leitrim - Morning Glory Cafe
- Roscommon - The Coachman's Inn
- Sligo - Otto Pizza
- Mayo - The Moy Hotel
Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine - Sponsored by FBD Insurance
- Galway - Owenmore Restaurant at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
- Leitrim - The Red Bank Restaurant
- Roscommon - Keenan's Hotel Bar & Restaurant
- Sligo - Fish & Bean
- Mayo - Cronin's Sheebeen
Best Gastropub - Sponsored by Molson Coors
- Galway - The Huntsman Inn
- Leitrim - The Oarsman
- Roscommon - Hester's Golden Eagle Bar and Restaurant
- Sligo - Harrisons Bar & Restaurant
- Mayo - Nevin's Newfield Inn
Best Casual Dining - Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
- Galway - POTA
- Leitrim - The Selkie
- Roscommon - Athlone Golf Club Restaurant
- Sligo - Davis' Restaurant & Yeats Tavern
- Mayo - The Cot and Cobble
Pub of the Year
- Galway - Freeney's Bar
- Leitrim - Flynn's Bar
- Roscommon - J Beirne's
- Sligo - Foleys Bar
- Mayo - Warde's
Employee Excellence Award - Sponsored by Peninsula
- Galway - Catalina Gabriela Caltun, 56 Central Restaurant Cafe
- Leitrim - Saoirse Supple, Honestly Farm Kitchen
- Roscommon - Lauren Walsh, Regan's Gastro Pub and Restaurant
- Sligo - Deirdre Quinn, Waterfront House & Restaurant
- Mayo - Niamh Walsh, The Creel Castlebar
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - Sponsored by Frylite
- Galway - Pullman Restaurant at Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate
- Leitrim - The Sandstone Restaurant at Lough Rynn Castle
- Roscommon - The Douglas Hyde Restaurant at Kilronan Castle
- Sligo - The Coral Restaurant at Diamond Coast Hotel
- Mayo - George V at Ashford Castle
Best Restaurant Manager - Sponsored by Elavon
- Galway - Zsolt Lukács, Daróg Wine Bar
- Leitrim - Gabriel Camburu, Buffalo Boy
- Roscommon - Michele Montis, The Waterfront Restaurant
- Sligo - Angela Davis, Davis' Restaurant & Yeats Tavern
- Mayo – Fatima Santos, Flannerys Bar & Restaurant
Best Chef - Sponsored by BWG Food Service
- Galway - Danny Africano, Lignum
- Leitrim - Piero Melis, The Courthouse Restaurant
- Roscommon - Martin Duffy, Athlone Springs Hotel
- Sligo - Stéphane Magaud, Montmartre
- Mayo - Kevin Stirzaker, Dining Room
Best Restaurant - Sponsored by San Miguel
- Galway - Blackrock Cottage
- Leitrim - The Red Bank Restaurant
- Roscommon - The Purple Onion Kitchen
- Sligo - Eala Bhán
- Mayo - Poacher Restaurant
