Great joy as the Horse and Jockey hotel is crowned as the ‘Best in Ireland’

Travel out from Thurles towards the motorway to Dublin or Cork and you come across a very pleasant hamlet nestled comfortably amongst rich, green pastures and tall trees. The Horse and Jockey has traditionally been a key stopping point on the road between Cork and Dublin and in recent years, since Urlingford became just that bit further away from the main thoroughfare, “The Jockey” has become a stopping point for thousands of road users each week.

The businesses in the village are all key to drawing trade and the hotel, the jewel in the crown, is on the radar for people as a resting point, a meeting spot and a hive of activity. It has been a stopping point or “journey’s rest” for folk across 250 years. The people there now are in some ways ambassadors for Tipperary as they are the faces that greet visitors and passersby to the county. They do what they do well.

Very well in fact, and as a result of all their hard work, the Horse and Jockey Hotel was honoured with the Gold Medal as Ireland’s “Best Four Star Hotel” at the Virgin Media Business Gold Medal Awards in Galway in late January. The Awards are recognised as the leading independent awards programme right across the Irish hospitality industry and to win the award brought great delight to the parish.

The Egan family run the Horse and Jockey and have put their heart and soul into it. Tom Egan had years of experience from the UK about what worked and what didn’t and he put his unique stamp on the hotel. The expansion since the Irish economic crash of 2008 has shown the determination of those driving the hotel.

The new Spa, hair salon, swimming pool and other leisure facilities added to the appeal for locals and tourists alike. A conference centre and a 200-seater theatre for presentations and shows (called “Derrynaflan” after the nearby area) added to the prestige.

The place draws people in. A new bakery, coffee bar and retail shop play a key part in village life. Walking inside the doors of the hotel you get the feeling that this is real life for people. Daily this is a mixing place for ideas, energy and humour. Flying the flag for Tipperary, winning awards and leading the way.