These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Cork
- 1st Place: Rosscarbery – A historic coastal gem in West Cork, where a stunning sandy beach meets a tidal lagoon. The town is home to the beautiful Cathedral of St. Fachtna, the nearby Drombeg Stone Circle, and serves as a gateway to the scenic delights of the surrounding coastline, making it a haven for history buffs and seaside visitors alike.
- 2nd Place: Timoleague – A peaceful village at the head of Courtmacsherry Bay, famed for the hauntingly beautiful ruins of its 13th-century Franciscan Abbey. The scenic Timoleague Brownsign Loop walk offers breathtaking estuary views, and the local community garden and peaceful atmosphere make it a wonderfully tranquil stop.
- 3rd Place: Cobh – The great port of Cork and the last port of call for the RMS Titanic. This colourful, steeply terraced town is rich in maritime history, showcased at the Cobh Heritage Centre and the Titanic Experience. The imposing St. Colman’s Cathedral and the poignant “Deck of Cards” houses create a visually stunning and deeply historic waterfront.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Cork
- Overall: Dede at the Customs House Baltimore
- Café: Praline Pastry & Chocolate Café
- Casual Dining: Son of a Bun
- Chef: Brian Murray of The Glass Curtain
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Saint Francis Provisions
- Customer Service: Restaurant Chestnut
- Employee Excellence Award: Allen Daly of Goldie
- Gastro Pub: O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Rare 1784 at Blue Haven Hotel
- Innovator: Trawler Boyz Ballycotton
- Local Food Hero: Donal & Virginia O’Gara, My Goodness
- Newcomer: Baba’de
- Pub: Sin É
- Restaurant Manager: Ronan Sharpe of Elbow Lane
- Sustainable Practices: The Town Coffee Company
- Use of Social Media: Paladar
- Wine Experience: L’Atitude 51 Wine Bar
- World Cuisine: The Dosa Spot
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
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
Cork:
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 – New – Name – 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 –
Cork blends historic sites with scenic beauty, with Cork City’s English Market and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral offering cultural and architectural depth. Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone, provides historic allure, while the coastal town of Kinsale offers sailing and seafood. Other attractions include the Beara Peninsula’s rugged trails. Cork is Ireland’s largest county by size (7,460 sq km) and third largest by population (584,156). Population peaked at 854,118 in 1841 (when Cork was Ireland’s most populous county) and reached its lowest point, 330,443 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Cork is Ireland’s second most visited tourist county with around 1,228,000 international visitors per year.
Link to 2024 Cork award winners
2025 Irish Restaurant 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
