Donegal Town pub wins Ulster’s Pub of the Year

Management of The Reel Inn in Donegal Town said they were “over the moon” and “extremely grateful” to win Ulster Pub of the Year at the Irish Restaurant Awards.

The Reel Inn was one of five businesses to have won Ulster awards at the award ceremony which was held at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. 

Bar Manager, Sharon McGlinchey said: “We are delighted. It was the first year we had ever been nominated for the Irish Restaurant Awards, so it was nice to get a new award. It was a great night with great food.”

The success for The Reel Inn is even more meaningful considering the owners, Jimmy McGinty and Michael McFall, only took over the running of the premises in April 2024. 

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Ciaran Sweeney of The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box in Glen won Ulster’s Best Chef. It was a successful week for Sweeney, as he said he was a “proud head chef” after the restaurant was included in the Business Post’s 101 Best Irish Restaurants list. 

Elsewhere, Cafe Sonder in Letterkenny won Ulster’s Best Use of Social Media. On their social media pages, management of Cafe Sonder commented: “Many thanks to everyone for your support and my hard-working team. We’re absolutely delighted to have won such a fantastic award.”

No 9 Market Square in Letterkenny won Ulster’s Best Newcomer, and Foam in Bundoran won Innovator of the Year.