Food and Wine

Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy saw off top local chefs as they renewed ties with Newport in Rhode Island – which is twinned with Kinsale. It was the first time that they’ve been able to travel direct from Cork to the US, and used Norwegian‘s direct flight to Boston Providence for the annual restaurant exchange. […]

Cliff Town House festival showcases six oysters Sixth year of festival Hotel group recently expanded to Co Kildare Cliff Townhouse showcased their Sixth Annual Oyster Fest in the company of producers Diarmuid Kelly from Galway and Gerry O’Halloran from Clare. Host Hector Ó hEochagáin told the audience: “we are right in the heart of Dublin […]

West Cork has been named the country’s top food region in this year’s Restaurants Association of Ireland Foodie Destinations award. The winner was announced at an event held in the Headfort Arms Hotel in the home of last year’s winners, Boyne Valley. West Cork, home to the annual Taste of West Cork Food Festival and Cork Character Cafes, beat competition from second-placed […]

Kilkenny’s Left Bank has been voted Ireland’s best bar at the 2017 Sky Bar of the Year Awards. The winners were revealed at a black tie event hosted by Newstalk’s Tom Dunne in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, attended by over 400. The event recognises excellence across the licensed trade with 25 drink, drink service and entertainment categories, […]

Ireland’s towns, villages, regions and communities are being asked to battle for the top prize in the Foodie Destinations 2017 awards and be named the country’s leading destination for a culinary experience. The Restaurants Association of Ireland said its awards, in association with FBD Insurance, celebrate Ireland’s unique and wonderful food offerings and encourages local […]

Even with almost 1.5m visitors a year, the Guinness Storehouse headcount is still dwarfed by Dublin Airport’s near-30m visitors a year. Now Guinness parent Diageo is aiming to capture some of that market as St James’s Gate comes right to the terminal gate. The Loop in Terminal 2 will be home to the world’s first […]

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits and Astoria Wines  All Ireland – Chapter One, Parnell Square, Dublin Dublin – Chapter One, Parnell Square, Dublin Connacht – Kai Café & Restaurant, Sea Rd, Galway Leinster – Sha-Roe Bistro, Carlow Munster – Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna Ulster – MacNean House & Restaurant, Blacklion Best Chef […]

Guinness fan James Morrissey from New York checked in for a once in a life time overnight reservation in the iconic Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse as part of Ireland’s first ever Airbnb ‘Night At’. The unique competition, which ran in March, saw the seven-storey visitor attraction listed as a residence on Airbnb’s website, […]

Paula McIntyre, broadcaster and culinary lecturer, won the food hero award at the second of four regional finals in this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards. Lost & Found won café of the year at the ceremony in the Lough Erne Resort, Fermanagh, where 87 awards were presented to the province’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs, before an […]

The new President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Liam Edwards, has identified retaining the 9pc VAT rate, ending calorie counting on menus and rules on outdoor seating as key issues for the association.   “The last two years have been a challenge for industry,” said Edwards (43), proprietor of Jim Edwards Bar and Restaurant in Kinsale, […]

Liam Edwards, proprietor of Jim Edwards Bar and Restaurant in Kinsale, is the new president of the RAI. The appointment was announced at the organisation’s 46th Annual General Meeting and Conference at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo. Liam Edwards, 43, runs the family business set up by his father Jim in 1971. […]

Café de mode, Ballon, Co Carlow won the Leinster title at the Irish Restaurant Awards in Lyrath, Kilkenny. The Leinster final wasattended by 600 as 105 awards were dispensed to the province’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs. Best Café was Café de mode, Ballon, Co Carlow, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine was Canteen Restaurant, Celbridge, Co Kildare, Best Kids Size Me […]

Slane Distillery, one of the newest additions to the growing Irish whiskey sector, is approaching completion of its construction and plans to begin on-site production this July 2017. Located in the historic Boyne Valley, Co Meath, the distillery is set on the grounds of the iconic Slane Castle. Slane Distillery’s construction team broke ground on […]

The Irish whiskey revival continues with Diageo announcing plans to invest in a whiskey distillery in the former Power Station at St James’s Gate in Dublin. The total project investment comes to €25m over three years. The drinks giant also launched a new premium Blended Irish Whiskey, Roe & Co, in a bid to make Irish Whiskey more […]

Chopped coming to Terminal 1 Providing 15 new jobs and fresh food to those in Dublin Airport Ireland’s ‘Best Emerging Franchise’ at the Irish Franchise Awards last April Dublin-born franchise started in 2012 by Brian Lee and Andy Chen Chopped, an Irish company specializing in fast food with a healthy twist, is opening an outlet […]

Just Eat awards 20 fast food caterers Ly Garden in Tallaght overall winner Ly Garden in Tallaght was named Ireland’s best takeaway in the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards 2016 after 14,000 votes were cast. It was named Best Takeaway in Dublin and Best Chinese Takeaway. Romayos in Clonsilla was named best chipper at a ceremony at […]

Mulberry gardens tops list: newcomer to top ten Dingle ans 3 retaurants in top 10, Dublin 4  Mulberry Garden in Donnybrook (website) topped the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2016. Out of the 411 reviews submitted on TripAdvisor, 312 of those rated the Mulberry Garden as excellent. The resrtrauanrt was the venue for Sunway’s recent 50th […]

High Court has appointed liquidator to two companies Operator of Dublin restaurant Dobbins Survival scheme for Beckett’s hotel operators  The High Court has appointed a liquidator to two companies operating iconic Dublin restaurant Dobbins. It was put into examinership in June after the companies operating it had problems with debt and loss of business contracts, at the […]

Heron and Grey new Michelin Star restaurant Michelin Starred restaurants in Ireland All resturants retain their stars Ireland now has 12 Michelin Star restaurants as Heron and Gray were added to the list for 2016 compiled by the international peer-review guide. It is a record number since Ireland was first included in the Michelin ratings system in […]

Irish Pubs Global event, ‘the Gathering 2016‘, on in Citywest Hotel 26-28 September 2016 This year’s theme: ‘Creating a Destination Pub’, “a pub that people will go out of their way to visit” (see criteria here).   Participants should be nursing their hangovers about now from the Irish Pubs Global event’s ‘Awards and Hooley Night’ […]