These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Mayo
- 1st: Westport – Consistently one of Ireland’s tidiest and most attractive towns, Westport is a planned Georgian gem with a tree-lined mall, stone bridges, and the charming Carrowbeg River flowing through its centre. It’s the gateway to Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay, bustling with traditional music, excellent restaurants, and the majestic Westport House estate on its doorstep.
- 2nd: Mulranny – A picturesque oasis on the Great Western Greenway between Newport and Achill, Mulranny is a haven for cyclists and walkers. It boasts breathtaking views of Clew Bay’s islands, pristine beaches, and unique heritage as a Victorian health resort. The community’s dedication is evident in its gorgeous floral displays, conservation areas, and peaceful, clean environment.
- 3rd: Castlebar – The lively county town has transformed its public realm with projects like the Lough Lannagh Village complex, complete with lakeshore walks and a state-of-the-art leisure centre. Rich in history related to the 1798 Rebellion, it offers good shopping, the National Museum of Country Life, and serves as a welcoming, tidy gateway to exploring the region.
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
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
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.
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
2024 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
