- Restaurant: Jodhpur Indian Restaurant, Longford, A popular Indian restaurant in Longford town specialising in authentic, flavourful curries and tandoori dishes in a welcoming setting.
- Chef: Lisa Vocella of Vocella’s, Longford, A talented chef recognised for her creative cooking and dedication to high-quality ingredients in this local favourite.
- Restaurant Manager: Amit Prasher of Jodhpur Indian Restaurant, Longford, An outstanding manager honoured for exceptional leadership and service excellence in this standout venue.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: PVs Longford, Longford, A hotel restaurant known for its refined dining offerings and hospitality within a comfortable guesthouse or hotel setting in the county.
- Café: Ménara Cafe, Longford, A charming café celebrated for its excellent coffee, fresh bakes, and relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
- Casual Dining: Spice India Longford, Longford, A vibrant eatery offering approachable Indian-inspired casual meals with bold flavours and great value.
- Gastro Pub: The Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, A lively gastro pub renowned for its innovative pub food, warm atmosphere, and quality local ingredients.
- Employee Excellence Award: Frances Nugent of Spice India Longford, Longford, A dedicated team member recognised for outstanding performance and contribution to hospitality.
Other Notable Awards
- Blas na hÉireann (Irish Food Awards), in Longford: Richmount Cordial Company, Longford, A local producer awarded for exceptional artisanal cordials, contributing to the county’s food scene (though not a restaurant, it supports local dining).
- County Longford’s awards spotlight its strong Indian cuisine influence (with Jodhpur and Spice India leading categories) alongside solid casual, café, and pub offerings in a rural Midlands setting, with 12 venues achieving recognition at the Leinster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards. The county’s scene emphasises welcoming, flavourful neighbourhood spots rather than high-end fine dining.
Irish Restaurant Awards full list
- Overall: Jodhpur Indian Restaurant
- Café: Ménara Cafe
- Casual Dining: Spice India Longford
- Chef: Lisa Vocella, Vocella’s
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: PVs Longford
- Customer Service: Macs Shack
- Employee Excellence Award: Frances Nugent, Spice India Longford
- Gastro Pub: The Rustic Inn
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: PVs Longford
- Innovator: Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
- Local Food Hero: David and Martina Burns of Richmount Cordial Company
- Newcomer: Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant
- Pub: Duignan’s Tallyho
- Restaurant Manager: Amit Prasher, Jodhpur Indian Restaurant
- Sustainable Practices: Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
- Use of Social Media: The Rustic Inn
- Wine Experience: Vocella’s
- World Cuisine: Chan Oriental
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow – Overall – County winners – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
2025 Restaurants Association Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
2024 Restaurants Association Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Longford:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Longford offers a peaceful blend of history and countryside, with the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre showcasing an ancient Iron Age road. The county’s St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford town provides architectural beauty, while the River Inny offers opportunities for kayaking and fishing. Other attractions include the rolling farmlands and historic Ardagh village. Longford is Ireland’s fourth smallest county by size and second smallest by population (46,751). Population peaked at 115,491 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 28,250 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Longford is Ireland’s 32nd most visited and Ireland’s least visited tourist county with around 22,000 international visitors per year.
