These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Clare
- 1st Place: Ballyvaughan – A jewel on the Wild Atlantic Way nestled in the heart of the Burren. This picturesque village, with its stone-walled harbour, is the ideal base for exploring the otherworldly karst landscape of the Burren, the nearby Aillwee Cave, and the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, all while enjoying renowned local seafood.
- 2nd Place: Ennis – The vibrant county town is a maze of medieval streets, alive with traditional music and culture. Key attractions include the ancient Ennis Friary, the Glór Irish Music Centre, and its wealth of boutiques and pubs. It’s a bustling urban centre that retains a friendly, historic charm.
- 3rd Place: Quin – A village steeped in extraordinary history, dominated by the magnificent and well-preserved 15th-century Quin Abbey. The adjacent Knappogue Castle and the rustic charm of the Thatched Cottage pub add to its appeal, offering visitors a quiet yet profoundly historical experience close to the amenities of Ennis.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Clare
- Overall: Homestead Cottage, Doolin
- Café: Sweet ‘n’ Green
- Casual Dining: Morrissey’s of Doonbeg
- Chef: Cezary Sodel of Oar Restaurant & Rooms
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Glas Restaurant at Hotel Doolin
- Customer Service: Russells Seafood Bar at Fiddle + Bow
- Employee Excellence Award: Alex Beyou of Dromoland Castle Hotel
- Gastro Pub: Linnane’s Lobster Bar
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel
- Innovator: The Armada Hotel
- Local Food Hero: Kasha Connolly, Hazel Mountain Chocolate
- Newcomer: Oileán
- Pub: Nora Culligans
- Restaurant Manager: Sophie McCauley of Homestead Cottage
- Sustainable Practices: The Armada Hotel
- Use of Social Media: Hotel Woodstock
- Wine Experience: Henry’s Bistro & Wine Bar
- World Cuisine: The Alley Asia
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
Clare:
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 –
Clare is renowned for its dramatic cliffs and traditional heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher offering breathtaking views over the Atlantic. The Burren’s unique limestone landscape provides hiking and rare flora, while Bunratty Castle offers medieval history with its restored interiors. Check out the traditional music scene in Doolin and the county’s coastal beaches. Clare is Ireland’s eighth largest county by size (3,188 square km) and 19th largest by population (127,938). Population peaked at 286,394 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 73,597 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Clare is Ireland’s sixth most visited tourist county with around 485,000 international visitors per year.
Link to county Clare 2024 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
