West Cork chef named best in Ireland as Munster restaurants feature in national awards

Paul and Máire Flynn also received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Irish Restaurant Awards

Ahmet Dede received the award for Best Chef in Ireland during the Irish Restaurant Awards. Picture: Larry Cummins

Several Munster restaurants came out on top during last night’s Irish Restaurant Awards, which were presented in Dublin.

Paul and Máire Flynn of The Tannery Restaurant, Townhouse and Cookery School in Co Waterford were presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award for their longstanding contribution to Irish hospitality and culinary excellence. The Local Food Hero award went to another Waterford food figure, Eunice Power, for the Waterford Festival of Food, while Farmgate Lismore was presented with the Best Casual Dining award.

In Cork, Ahmet Dede of Dede at The Customs House Baltimore received the award for Best Chef in Ireland for his West Cork restaurant, while Rare at Blue Haven Hotel in Kinsale was named Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant and Miyazaki takeaway was named Best World Cuisine.

In Kerry, Solas Tapas & Wine in Dingle was awarded Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine.

Elsewhere, in Dublin Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, the country’s first two-star Michelin restaurant, was named Best Restaurant in Ireland.

“From local cafés and family run restaurants to world class dining destinations, these Awards recognise the passion, dedication and innovation that can be found in every corner of Ireland,” said Seán Collender, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.

“Gordon Ramsay recently described Ireland as the sleeping giant of European cuisine. Well, that giant is awakening and tonight is proof of that. Across every county we are seeing incredible creativity, quality and ambition in our restaurants and hospitality businesses.” 

Local Food Hero award winner Eunice Power.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Restaurant

Leinster: Bramley Abbeyleix 


Connacht: The Cottage Restaurant 


Munster: Homestead Cottage 


Ulster: Noble 


Dublin: Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud 


All Ireland: Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud   

Best Chef

Connacht: Dave Mullan, Fish & Bean 


Ulster: Stevie Toman, Ox Restaurant 


Dublin: Mickael Viljanen, Chapter One 


Leinster: John Coffey, Thyme Restaurant 


Munster: Ahmet Dede, Dede at The Customs House Baltimore 


All Ireland: Ahmet Dede, Dede at The Customs House Baltimore

Best Restaurant Manager

Ulster: Paul Vaughan, James St 


Munster: Elaine Hourigan, 1826 Adare 


Connacht: Lorraine McHugh, The Selkie 


Dublin: Darren Campbell, La Gordita 


Leinster: Carmel Boyle, Ballyfin Demesne 


All Ireland: Carmel Boyle, Ballyfin Demesne   

Outstanding Achievement Award

Máire and Paul Flynn in The Tannery

All Ireland: Paul and Máire Flynn, The Tannery Restaurant, Townhouse and Cookery School   

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant

Dublin: Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins at Anantara The Marker 


Leinster: Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate 


Connacht: The Lodge at Ashford Castle 


Ulster: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate 


Munster: Rare at Blue Haven Hotel 


All Ireland: Rare at Blue Haven Hotel   

Best Use of Social Media

Leinster: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro 


Ulster: Charlie's Bar, Enniskillen 


Munster: The Lifeboat Inn 


Dublin: Rosa Madre 


Connacht: The Dough Bros - Galway 


All Ireland: The Dough Bros – Galway   

Employee Excellence Award

Dublin: Ashling Griffin, King Sitric Seafood Bar & Accommodation 


Munster: Ciara O Shea, Caseys Bar & Restaurant 


Ulster: Lina Krolenko, Sonder 


Leinster: Sophie Hogan, Hogan's Farm Shop & Cafe 


Connacht: Theresa Donlon, Hester's Golden Eagle Bar and Restaurant 


All Ireland: Theresa Donlon, Hester's Golden Eagle Bar and Restaurant   

Best Casual Dining

Connacht: Mitchell's Restaurant 


Ulster: Fisk Seafood Bar 


Leinster: Inside Out 


Dublin: Vada 


Munster: Farmgate 


All Ireland: Farmgate   

Best Gastro Pub

Dublin: F.X. Buckley @ Ryan's of Parkgate Street 


Ulster: The Dirty Duck Alehouse 


Munster: Merrys Gastro Pub 


Leinster: Left Bank 


Connacht: Coyne's Gastropub & Pantry 


All Ireland: Coyne's Gastropub & Pantry   

Best Cafe 

Leinster: Grálinn Sunny Row 


Dublin: Two Pups 


Connacht: Baker 51 


Munster: Grumpy Bakers - Cork City 


Ulster: General Merchants 


All Ireland: General Merchants   

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine

Dublin: Volpe Nera 


Connacht: Blackthorn at The Twelve Hotel 


Ulster: No. 9 Market Square 


Leinster: Bearú 


Munster: Solas Tapas & Wine 


All Ireland: Solas Tapas & Wine   

Best Newcomer

Ulster: Capparelli at The Mill 


Leinster: Ernie's @ Shackleton Experience 


Munster: 505 


Connacht: Fawn Food & Wine 


Dublin: Comet 


All Ireland: Comet   

Pub of the Year

Leinster: The Dylan Whisky Bar 


Ulster: Linnet Inn 


Connacht: McDonnells Bar 


Munster: J. & K. Walsh Victorian Spirit Grocer 


Dublin: The Cobblestone 


All Ireland: The Cobblestone   

Best Wine Experience

Ulster: El Tapas Grá 


Leinster: Delgany Wine Cottage 


Munster: MacCurtain Wine Cellar 


Connacht: Daróg Wine Bar 


Dublin: 64 Wine 


All Ireland: 64 Wine   

Best Customer Service

Connacht: Harrisons Bar & Restaurant 


Munster: The Glass Curtain 


Leinster: Reeds Restaurant at Ferrycarrig Hotel 


Dublin: La Maison 


Ulster: Frae 


All Ireland: Frae   

Best World Cuisine

Leinster: Sanjay's Kitchen 


Connacht: Kombu - Ramen & Bao Bar 


Ulster: Braai Restaurant Donegal 


Dublin: Bigfan 


Munster: Miyazaki 


All Ireland: Miyazaki   

Best Sustainable Practices

Dublin: Fairmental 


Ulster: Killeavy Castle Estate 


Munster: Woodlands House Hotel & Spa 


Leinster: Solas Eco Garden Centre 


Connacht: Kai 
All Ireland: Kai    

Innovator of the Year

Munster: Slow and Steady 


Leinster: The Centre of Food Culture Ireland 


Connacht: Builín Blasta Cafe & Bakery 


Ulster: Waterman House 


Dublin: Mr Fox Whiskey 


All Ireland: Mr Fox Whiskey   

Local Food Hero

Leinster: Kian Louët-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company 


Connacht: Cillian Ó Móráin and Naomi Clarkin, Mescan Brewery 


Dublin: Peter Caviston, Cavistons Restaurant and Food Emporium 


Ulster: Jordan Weir, The Dairy - Bistro, Butchers & Farm Shop 


Munster: Eunice Power, Waterford Festival of Food 


All Ireland: Eunice Power, Waterford Festival of Food   

Best Cocktail Experience

All Ireland: Roge Austin, Vintage Cocktail Club   

Food Truck of the Year

All Ireland: Misunderstood Heron   

Best Cookery School

All Ireland: Picado Mexican Pantry   

Best Learning and Development

All Ireland: Tifco Hotel Group