- Best Restaurant: An Port Mór, Westport, A celebrated fine-dining restaurant in the heart of Westport, renowned for its classic and modern Irish cuisine using seasonal local produce in an intimate, welcoming setting.
- Best Chef: Yvonne Kathrein of Poacher Restaurant, location in County Mayo, An acclaimed chef recognised for her innovative, precise cooking and creative use of fresh Irish ingredients in this standout venue.
- Best Restaurant Manager: Shirley Stirzaker of Dining Room, location in County Mayo, An exceptional manager honoured for outstanding leadership and service excellence in this acclaimed restaurant.
- Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: George V at Ashford Castle, Cong, An opulent fine-dining restaurant within the luxurious Ashford Castle estate, known for its refined cuisine, impeccable service, and stunning lakeside historic surroundings.
- Best Café: This Must Be The Place, location in County Mayo, A vibrant café celebrated for its excellent coffee, fresh bakes, and relaxed, community-focused atmosphere.
- Best Casual Dining: Friends Bistro, location in County Mayo, A friendly spot specialising in approachable, high-quality casual meals with a focus on fresh, flavourful dishes.
- Best Gastro Pub: The Cot and Cobble, Ballina, A popular gastro pub awarded for its innovative pub food, great atmosphere, and quality offerings (also recognised for employee excellence with Jason Moyles).
Michelin Guide
- Recommended: An Port Mór, Westport, A classic cuisine restaurant praised for its high-quality, well-executed dishes using local ingredients in a charming town setting.
- Two MICHELIN Keys (Hotel Award): Ashford Castle, Cong, A luxurious historic castle hotel newly awarded two keys in for outstanding comfort, exceptional service, and fine dining experiences including the George V Room.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- Hospitality Hero Award: Niall Rochford of Ashford Castle, Cong, Recognised as a leading figure in Irish hospitality for his captaincy of Ireland’s premier luxury destination.
- ‘Happy Place’ Award: Café Rua, Castlebar, A cheerful, welcoming café near the Linenhall Arts Centre, celebrated for its warm atmosphere and community appeal.
- Visitor Attraction: Ballycroy Visitor Centre and Ginger & Wild Café, Ballycroy, Honoured for its exceptional visitor experience combining nature, education, and quality café dining in a remote, scenic location.
Good Food Ireland Awards
- 5-Star Hotel of the Year (Winner): Ashford Castle, Cong, A luxurious estate recognised for top-tier hospitality, exceptional dining, and iconic Irish experiences.
- Restaurant of the Year Finalist: An Port Mór Restaurant, Westport, Shortlisted nationally for consistent delivery of exceptional culinary experiences with high-quality Irish ingredients.
- County Mayo’s awards scene emphasises luxury estate dining at Ashford Castle (with significant national and international recognition), charming Westport spots like An Port Mór, and welcoming cafés and pubs, blending Wild Atlantic Way hospitality with high-end and neighbourhood excellence using local, seasonal produce.
Restaurants Association of Ireland full list
The awards ceremony for the Connacht counties in the Restaurant of the Year awards took place on Tuesday 8th April, at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Rosses Point, County Sligo. The county Mayo winners were:
- Overall: An Port Mór, Westport
- Café: This Must Be The Place
- Casual Dining: Friends Bistro
- Chef: Yvonne Kathrein, Poacher Restaurant
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Amethyst Bar
- Customer Service: Arno’s Bistrot
- Employee Excellence Award: Jason Moyles, The Cot and Cobble
- Gastro Pub: The Cot and Cobble
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: George V at Ashford Castle
- Innovator: Jimmys
- Local Food Hero: The Calvey Family of Calveys Achill Mountain Lamb
- Newcomer: La Casa
- Pub: Matt Molloy’s
- Restaurant Manager: Shirley Stirzaker, Dining Room
- Sustainable Practices: Cloona Health Retreat
- Use of Social Media: Mam’s
- Wine Experience: The Kitchen Restaurant at Mount Falcon Estate
- World Cuisine: Olde Bridge Restaurant
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 of Ireland Awards by county
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 of Ireland Awards by county
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
Mayo:
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 –
Mayo offers dramatic scenery and ancient heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher’s rugged beauty and Croagh Patrick’s pilgrimage trail providing stunning vistas. The town of Westport features Georgian architecture and access to Clew Bay’s islands, while the Ceide Fields showcase a prehistoric farming landscape. Other attractions include the celebrity beaches of Achill Island. Mayo is Ireland’s third largest county by size (5,398 square km) and 18th largest by population (137,970). Population peaked at 388,887 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 109,525 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Mayo is Ireland’s tenth most visited tourist county with around 218,000 international visitors per year.
