Donegal businesses shine bright at Irish Hospitality Awards

Donegal businesses scooped five awards and four highly commended achievements at the Irish Hospitality Awards.

The winners were announced at a ceremony in The Crowne Plaza, Dublin Airport on Monday. 

At the sixth Irish Hospitality Awards,  John’s Walking Ireland in Donegal Town won the Best Day Out category and the Highly Commended category went to Kia Ora Mini Farm based in Gorey. 

The Best Entertaining Team was won by Travers Holiday Park in Bundoran and the Hidden Valley Resort in Rathdrum was Highly Commended. 

Donegal again entered the spotlight taking the Best Bar award with Farren’s Bar located at Malin Head, known for the Yoda mural. In this category, Highly Commended went to Peadar’s Bar in Moate. 

The Hotel of the Year was the Silver Tassie Hotel situated in Letterkenny and the Highly Commended accolade went to The Ardilaun Hotel in County Galway. Donegal scooped another first place with the Spa Hotel of the Year at the Shandon Hotel in Dunfanaghy and the Highly Commended went to Kilronan Castle Estate in Connaught. 

Various Donegal locations were also recognised, Ballyshannon’s Rory Gallagher Festival was highly commended as the Best Irish Festival and Galway International Oyster Festival won overall. Century Complex in Letterkenny was highly commended as The Best Cinema Complex and Eye Cinema in Galway took first place. For the Value Hotel of the Year Highly Commended went to McGrory’s Hotel Culdaff and the Commodore Hotel (Cork) won the award. Lastly, for Bed and Breakfast of the Year Highly Commended went to The Gateway Lodge in Donegal Town and the Enniskerry Inn took the top spot. 

The Irish Hospitality Awards aim to celebrate the dedication, skill and customer service of the professionals aiming to acknowledge those who make a positive difference in this sector. “We would like to congratulate all of our Winners and Highly Commended recipients on their incredible accomplishments,” The Irish Hospitality Awards said.