Co Limerick’s Adare Mansion has been named as Ireland’s number one five-star hotel at the hospitality industry’s 2018 Gold Medal Awards.
The awards recognise excellence in a variety of different areas of hospitality from five-star luxury to family friendly service.
It also awards hotels on the quality of the experience they provide for their guests such as the best wine experience or the best fine dining.
The awards are in association with the Hotel & Catering Review.
The winners of the various awards are spread across the country, showing that the whole of Ireland (not just the popular tourist destinations) lives up to its reputation as being a land of a thousand welcomes.
Other stand out winners include Castlewood House in Dingle, which scooped the judges’ choice award and Co. Monaghan’s Castle Leslie Estate which won the public vote for Ireland’s favourite place to stay.
Meanwhile, Co Wexford was the place to go for food with La Côte Seafood Restaurant, winning the best fine dining experience, The Duck Restaurant, Marlfield House Hotel picking up the best casual dining experience award and Aldridge Lodge Restaurant and Guest Accommodation winning the Menu Provenance Award.
Event Director Katherine O’Riordan said: “Ireland is world famous as a haven for hospitality and a budding foodie nation so the calibre of winners is no surprise.
“The judges had a tough job narrowing down the entries to these 31 outstanding properties and it’s particularly great to see the standards of the hospitality industry are equally high across the country.
“I’d like to extend my congratulations to all the finalists and winners – Ireland’s reputation is in good hands.”
The 2018 Gold Medal Awards Winners
Supreme Winner – Adare Manor
Judges’ Choice Award – Castlewood House Dingle
Outstanding Service Award – John Moriarty, Park Hotel Kenmare
Ireland’s Favourite Place to Stay (public vote) – Castle Leslie Estate, Co. Monaghan
Ireland’s Five Star Hotel – Adare Manor, Co. Limerick
Ireland’s Four Star Hotel – Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Co. Galway
Ireland’s Four Star Resort – Galgorm Resort & Spa, Co. Antrim
Ireland’s Three Star Hotel – Celtic Ross Hotel, Co. Cork
Ireland’s Country House & Guest House Experience – Ard na Sidhe Country House, Co. Kerry
Ireland’s Five Star Hotel Spa Experience – ESPA At The Europe, The Europe Hotel & Resort, Co. Kerry
Ireland’s Four Star Hotel Spa Experience – Angsana Spa, The Brehon, Co. Kerry
Ireland’s Hotel Breakfast – Great Southern Hotel, Co. Kerry
Ireland’s Family Friendly Hotel – Newpark Hotel with Escape Health Club & Aveda Spa, Co. Kilkenny
Ireland’s City Hotel – North Star Hotel, Dublin
Ireland’s Business Hotel – Limerick Strand Hotel, Co. Limerick
Ireland’s Wedding Hotel – Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa, Co. Roscommon
Ireland’s Best Hotel Website – The Ice House Hotel, Co. Mayo
Ireland’s Innovative Supplier – Hugh Jordan & Co, Dublin
Ireland’s Event Caterer – Masterchefs Hospitality – Seafest, Galway 2018
Ireland’s Site Contract Caterer – Brook Food Services, Eatsmart @ Regeneron, Co. Limerick
Ireland’s Healthcare Caterer – St Patrick’s University Hospital Catering Department, Dublin
Ireland’s Fine Dining Restaurant – La Côte Seafood Restaurant, Co. Wexford
Ireland’s Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant – The George V Dining Room, Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
Ireland’s Casual Dining Restaurant – JP Clarke’s, Co. Clare
Ireland’s Hotel Casual Dining Experience – The Duck Restaurant, Marlfield House Hotel, Co. Wexford
Ireland’s Newcomer Restaurant – Glovers Alley, Dublin
Ireland’s Wine Experience – Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
Ireland’s Guest Experience – Dromoland Castle Hotel, Co. Clare
Ireland’s Front of House Team/Team Member – The Q Cafe Company, Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin
Ireland’s Chef of the Year – Chad Byrne, The Brehon, Co. Kerry
Ireland’s Menu Provenance Award – Aldridge Lodge Restaurant and Guest Accommodation, Co. Wexford
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling
