Cork city and county were in the spotlight at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024 on Monday evening when Aishling Moore, head chef at Goldie restaurant in Cork city, was crowned best chef and Dede at the Customs House in Baltimore was revealed as the restaurant of the year.
Moore, who recently published her first cookery book, Whole Catch, creates her seafood restaurant menus with sustainability at the forefront, using all of the fish, fin-to-gill.
Dede at the Customs House, co-owned by head chef Ahmet Dede and Maria Archer, was awarded two stars in the 2023 Michelin Guide.
Almost 1,200 chefs, restaurateurs and industry professionals attended the awards ceremony in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 on Monday evening. More than 160,000 public nominations were received in the first stage of judging of these awards, now in their 15th year. Regional awards were then made, before an industry expert panel met to select national and special award winners.
A popular winner in the Local Food Hero category was Lorraine O’Connor, representing the charity Muslim Sisters of Eire, which supports the homeless in a number of ways including soup runs and food delivery to those in need at Dublin’s GPO. Other overall winners on the evening included The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel in Cashel, Co Tipperary and The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box in Carrickart in Co Donegal. Best newcomer was La Gordita in Dublin.
[ Michelin-starred restaurants in Ireland 2024: The complete guideOpens in new window ]
“During these undoubtedly tough times for our industry, celebrating Ireland’s food and hospitality offering is as crucial as ever. Above all, the awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work of Ireland’s talented restaurant, cafe and food-led hospitality staff,” said Paul Lenehan, president of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which administers the awards.
Irish Restaurant Awards 2024: The winners
Best Restaurant – Sponsored by San Miguel
Leinster: Clashganny House Restaurant
Ulster: Macnean House & Restaurant
Munster: Dede at the Custom House Baltimore
Connaught: Eala Bhán
Dublin: Chapter One Restaurant
All Ireland: Dede at the Custom House Baltimore
Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Leinster: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
Ulster: Ciaran Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
Munster: Aishling Moore, Goldie
Connaught: Danny Africano, Lignum
Dublin: Eric Matthews, Kicky’s
All Ireland: Aishling Moore, Goldie
Outstanding Achievement Award – Sponsored by istil.38
TJ O’Connor
Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Elavon
Leinster: Kasia Urban, Bramley Abbeyleix
Ulster: Anne Cannon, La Bella Donna Restaurant
Munster: Dermot Fetton, Earl of Thomond Restaurant at Dromoland Castle Hotel
Connaught: Gabriel Camburu, Buffalo Boy
Dublin: Prateek Vikram, China Sichuan Restaurant
All Ireland: Prateek Vikram, China Sichuan Restaurant
Employee Excellence Award – Sponsored by Peninsula
Leinster: Sophie Hogan, Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe
Ulster: Liam McKenna, Armagh City Hotel
Munster: Shane Gater, Mezze
Connaught: Catalina Gabriela Caltun, 56 Central Restaurant Cafe
Dublin: Lisa Freeley, Roly’s Bistro and Cafe
All Ireland: Sophie Hogan, Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by Frylite
Leinster: The Morrison Room at Carton House
Ulster: Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
Munster: The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
Connaught: George V at Ashford Castle
Dublin: The Saddle Room at the Shelbourne
All Ireland: The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Mad March Hare Poitín
Leinster: Begleys Bar
Ulster: The Garrick
Munster: Levis Corner House
Connaught: Freeney’s Bar
Dublin: Anseo
All Ireland: Begleys Bar
Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
Leinster: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
Ulster: The Square Bistro
Munster: Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse
Connaught: The Selkie
Dublin: Osteria Lucio
All Ireland: The Square Bistro
Best Gastropub – Sponsored by Molson Coors
Leinster: The Strand Cahore
Ulster: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
Munster: Vaughans Anchor Inn
Connaught: The Huntsman Inn
Dublin: Gleesons of Booterstown
All Ireland: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by FBD Insurance
Leinster: Statham’s by Pembroke
Ulster: 28 at the Hollow
Munster: Lagom Restaurant Kenmare
Connaught: Owenmore Restaurant at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Dublin: Potager
All Ireland: Lagom Restaurant Kenmare
Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Square
Leinster: Tābú
Ulster: Salumeria Mariuccia
Munster: Homestead Cottage
Connaught: Otto Pizza
Dublin: La Gordita
All Ireland: La Gordita
Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Bibendum
Leinster: Ristorante Rinuccini
Ulster: Ora Wine and Tapas
Munster: The Dining Room at Park Hotel Kenmare
Connaught: Daróg Wine Bar
Dublin: Ely Wine Bar
All Ireland: Daróg Wine Bar
Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
Leinster: Gralinn
Ulster: Noble
Munster: Aileen’s at Armada Hotel
Connaught: Rusheenduff Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel & Resort
Dublin: Kicky’s
All Ireland: Rusheenduff Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel & Resort
Best Café – Sponsored by Illy
Leinster: Bowe’s Foodhall & Cafe
Ulster: Ursa Minor
Munster: La Alegria Café
Connaught: Rogue & Co Cafe
Dublin: Happy Out x Together Academy
All Ireland: Happy Out x Together Academy
Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by San Pellegrino
Leinster: Sanjay’s Kitchen
Ulster: Chandpur Restaurant
Munster: Ichigo Ichie
Connaught: Funké – Afro Caribbean Restaurant
Dublin: 3 Leaves Blackrock
All Ireland: Ichigo Ichie
Best Sustainable Practices – Sponsored by Familia Torres
Leinster: Mueller and O’Connell Bakery
Ulster: No 14 at the Georgian House
Munster: Killarney Park & Ross Hotel
Connaught: Kai Restaurant
Dublin: Bread 41
All Ireland: Kai Restaurant
Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Diageo
Leinster: Nóinín
Ulster: The Blue Goat
Munster: Rare 1784
Connaught: Builín Blasta Cafe & Bakery
Dublin: Amuri
All Ireland: Rare 1784
Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Flogas
Leinster: Pauline Dunne, Killowen Farm
Ulster: Johnny McDowell, Indie Fude
Munster: Siobhán Ní Gháirbhith, St Tola Goat Cheese Farm
Connaught: Patrick J Rigney, The Shed Distillery
Dublin: Lorraine O’Connor, Muslim Sisters of Eire
All Ireland: Lorraine O’Connor, Muslim Sisters of Eire
Best Cocktail Experience – Monin
Adrian McFadden, The Garden Room at the Merrion Hotel
Food Truck of the Year – Munch’d by Zoma
Misunderstood Heron
Best Learning and Development – Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet
Fota Island Resort
Best Cookery School – Avonmore
The Edward Hayden School of Cookery
Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant – Cashel Blue Cheese
Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
