All the Donegal winners from the Ulster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards

County winners from across the region were honoured at the Irish Restaurant Awards Ulster Regional Final 2024. Click on the arrows below to see a selection of Donegal winners with photos by Kevin McFeely of Paul Sherwood Photography.

Over 800 restaurateurs attended the celebration of food and hospitality in Ulster at the ceremony which took place on Wednesday, April 10 in the Armagh City Hotel.

Once all regional events have been completed and county winners announced, Regional and All Ireland Winners – including in categories such as Best Restaurant and Best Chef – will be revealed at the All Ireland Awards Gala Dinner at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road, Dublin 4 in May.

President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said: “We all see media reports day in and day out of how difficult it is to run a restaurant or café in Ireland today.

“But, in many ways, this is why it is more important than ever to take the time to reflect on all that makes Ulster’s culinary offering one of the best around.

“In particular, the Ulster 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:

Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Flo Gas
Brian O’Donnell, Danny Minnies Country House

Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Diageo
The Blue Goat

Best Sustainable Practices – Sponsored by The Findlater Group
Sonder

Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by San Pellegrino
Chandpur

Best Café – Sponsored by Illy
The Narrow Quarter Bistro & Coffee House

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
Blas at the Gateway Lodge

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Bibendum
The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Square
Hatch’d Coffee

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by FBD Insurance
The Lemon Tree Restaurant

Best Gastropub – Sponsored by Molson Coors
The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
Biddy’s O’Barnes

Pub of the Year
John Joe’s Kilcar

Employee Excellence Award – Sponsored by Peninsula
Eoin Sweeney, Villa Rose Hotel and Spa

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by Frylite
The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point

Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Elavon
Anne Cannon, La Bella Donna Restaurant

Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Ciaran Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by San Miguel
The Red Door Country House