32 Irish pubs feature as Michelin serves up its latest guide

Some 32 Irish pubs spread across 15 counties, north and south, have secured listings in the 2016 Michelin Eating Out In Pubs Guide which has just been published.

Sun, 01 Nov, 2015 - 00:00

Dan Buckley

Of the 25 pubs in the Republic, two are new listings — Old Spot in Ballsbridge and Harte’s in Kildare.

In the north, amongst the seven pubs listed is one new entry from Co Down — Balloo House in Killinchy.

In overall terms, Co Down leads the way with six listings followed by Cork with five, Clare with four, and Kildare with three.

Cronins in Crosshanven, Co Cork, has also made the prestigious Michelin guide

Dublin, Galway, and Mayo each received two listings with Antrim, Kerry, Leitrim, Louth, Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford, and Wicklow each having one listing.

Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, and Toddies at the Bulman, Kinsale, both received an ‘Inspectors’ Favourites’ commendation, described in the guide as “establishments found to be particularly charming and which offer something extra special.”

Aidan McGrath of Wild Honey Inn in Lisdoonvarna. The restaurant received an ‘Inspectors’ Favourites’ commendation

The Bulman was voted Best Gastro Pub in Cork in 2010 in the Irish Restaurant Awards, the same year it was also judged the Best Tourist Pub in the Fáilte Ireland Awards. It won the award for the best in Munster this year.

The pub’s Toddies Restaurant has also won Bridgestone and Georgina Campbell awards.

The husband and wife team of Pearse and Mary O’Sullivan’s very popular restaurant is located in Summercove, near Charles Fort.

“We are absolutely delighted,” said Pearse, who is also head chef at the restaurant.

Mary Ann’s in Castletownshend has made the grade with Michelin inspectors

“We heard about it a while ago but we were in France visiting my parents and when I turned on my phone today at Dublin Airport it went mental with messages of congratulations.”

Pearse and Mary put their success down to using local fresh produce. “We are very seafood based,” said Pearse.

“We have a lot of oyster-based food and we are well known for our grilled lobster.

“We do good food, simply cooked and straight from the sea.”

The Wild Honey Inn also believes in using the freshest produce cooked by chef- proprietor Aidan McGrath.

Wild Honey Inn dates from 1860 in Lisdoonvarna, and has a wealth of old world charm. Kate Sweeney and Aidan McGrath combine modern comforts for the traveller with the intimacy of a family-run inn.