County winners from across the region of Munster were announced last night at the Irish Restaurant Awards Munster Regional Final 2024, the third regional final of this year's awards season, which took place at the Great Southern Hotel, Co Kerry.
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.
Over 160,000 public nominations have been received for restaurants, cafés and other food services establishments across the country, and last night's ceremony was attended by more than 700 industry professionals.
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."
Winners for Leinster and Connaught have already been announced in recent days. 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 Munster are as follows:
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
