Ireland

Donegal bar named pub of the year

The Olde Glen in Carraigart was awarded the accolade of pub of the year
The Olde Glen in Carraigart was awarded the accolade of pub of the year The Olde Glen in Carraigart was awarded the accolade of pub of the year

A DONEGAL bar has been named as pub of the year at an awards event honouring the best food and hospitality venues in the Republic.

The Olde Glen in Carraigart was awarded the accolade at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards.

Selected by incognito inspectors, the awards have been described as "a kind of love letter to Irish food and hospitality".

Editor and publisher Georgina Campbell paid tribute to those who work in the industry, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am lost in admiration for all of the brave and dedicated people in the sector who have stretched themselves to the limit to keep their businesses (many of them family owned) going, keep their staff together if at all possible, and provide incredibly creative alternative services to customers," she said.

She added that "despite the early worries about mass closures, the most surprising thing about the last couple of years is the number of new openings, especially restaurants, cafes and, of course, food trucks, alongside some superb pivoting and diversification, notably the excellent retail operations that many restaurants have developed alongside, or sometimes to replace, the core business".

Among the other winners were Damien Grey, of the Michelin-starred Liath in Blackrock, Co Dublin, who was named chef of the year in the annual awards, while Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, in Dublin 1 was awarded the restaurant of the year title.

The Park Hotel in Kenmare was named best five star hotel, while Cliff at Lyons took the four star hotel accolade and the three-star winner was the Station House Hotel in Kilmessan, Co Meath.