People planning an Irish holiday next year take note – the best hotels and restaurants in Ireland have been named at the 2017 Gold Medal Awards.
It was good news for counties such as Wexford, Kerry and Cork who won plenty of the top awards between them.
The ceremony recognises hotels that have excelled in several different areas of hospitality including five-star luxury, family hotels, wedding venues, city and country hotels and more.
There were also several awards given for food and service.
Kelly’s Resort Hotel in Co. Wexford was honoured with the most prestigious award of the night after being named the Gold Medal Supreme Winner.
Co Mayo’s Ashford Castle, was voted Ireland’s top Guest Experience and Five-Star Hotel. It has been a good few months for Ashford Castle which also won AA Ireland’s Hotel of the Year in April.
The award for ‘Ireland’s Four-star Hotel’ went to The Malton in Killarney.
The Castle Leslie Estate in Co. Monaghan went home with the People’s choice award for ‘Ireland’s Favourite Place to Stay’, sponsored by The Irish Independent.
Hundreds of hotels, restaurants guesthouses, spas and catering businesses were visited and evaluated by members of a judging panel throughout the year.
The Gold Medal Awards are now in their 29th year and the 2017 ceremony, in association with Hotel & Catering Review magazine, took place at the Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny.
Sybil Mulcahy, a judge for the awards said: “The calibre of entries this year was incredible and we are delighted to see such a strong offering in our hospitality industry.
“It bodes extremely well for the tourism sector and for our economy as a whole.”
Gold Medal Awards winners 2017:
- • Gold Medal Supreme Winner – Kelly’s Resort & Hotel, Co. Wexford
• Ireland’s Five Star Hotel – Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
• Ireland’s Five Star Boutique Hotel – Ballyfin, Co. Laois
• Ireland’s Four Star Hotel – The Malton Killarney, Co. Kerry
• Ireland’s Four Star Resort – The Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, Dublin
• Ireland’s Three Star Hotel – Headfort Arms Hotel, Co. Meath
• Ireland’s Country House & Guest House – Marlfield House, Co. Wexford
• Ireland’s Five Star Hotel Spa Experience – Aghadoe Heights, Co. Kerry
• Ireland’s Four Star Hotel Spa Experience – Oceo Spa, Seafield Hotel, Co. Wexford
• Ireland’s Hotel Breakfast – Blue Haven Hotel, Co. Cork
• Ireland’s Family Friendly Hotel – Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Co. Wexford
• Ireland’s City Hotel – The Montenotte Hotel, Co. Cork
• Ireland’s Business Hotel – Absolute Hotel, Limerick
• Ireland’s Wedding Hotel – Garryvoe Hotel, Co. Cork
• Ireland’s Favourite Place to Stay – Castle Leslie Estate, Co. Monaghan
• Ireland’s Best Hotel Website – Wyatthotel.com, Co. Mayo
Top awards for food and service:
- • Ireland’s Chef of the Year – Jess Murphy, Kai Restaurant, Co. Galway
• Ireland’s Executive Chef of the Year – Ken Harker, Mount Juliet Estate, Co. Kilkenny
• Ireland’s Rising Star Chef of the Year – Niamh Barry, The Bay Tree Bistro, Co. Waterford
• Ireland’s Menu Provenance Award – Limerick Strand Hotel
• Ireland’s Fine Dining Restaurant – Pullman Restaurant, Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Co. Galway
• Ireland’s Casual Dining Experience – The Draft House, Co. Sligo
• Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Restaurant – The Tavern, Co. Mayo
• Ireland’s Newcomer Restaurant – Wild and Native Seafood Restaurant, Co. Wexford
• Ireland’s Wine Experience – The Twelve Hotel, Co. Galway
• Ireland’s Guest Experience – Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
• Outstanding Service Award – Aidan Moynihan, Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry
• Ireland’s Front of House Team Member – Deirdre Ryan, Marymount University Hospital & Hospice, Co. Cork
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling