These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Galway
- 1st Place: Clarinbridge – World-renowned as the home of the Galway Oyster Festival, Clarinbridge is a charming village where the River Clarin meets Dunkellin Bay. It’s a food lover’s paradise, famed for its oyster bars and high-quality local seafood. The village is also a key stop on the Oyster Pearl trail of the Wild Atlantic Way and is perfectly situated for exploring the nearby iconic landscapes of Connemara and the historic sites of Coole Park.
- 2nd Place: Abbey (Abbeyknockmoy) – A tranquil village steeped in history and tradition in East Galway. Its prime attraction is the Abbeyknockmoy Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian monastery featuring medieval wall paintings and fascinating tombs. The surrounding countryside is perfect for peaceful walks and angling, offering visitors an authentic experience of rural Galway life, heritage, and quiet beauty.
- 3rd Place: Milltown – A friendly and tidy inland village that acts as a key junction between Galway city, Connemara, and the northern regions of the county. While a practical stop for travellers, it boasts its own attractions like the lovely walks along the River Clare and proximity to the Derrygimlagh Bog, a site of huge historical importance for transatlantic communications. It’s an ideal base for exploring the stunning landscapes of Lough Corrib and the quiet beauty of North Galway.
Lignum in rural Galway near Loughrea, recently accorded Michelin status, received another accolade when it won the county Galway restaurant of the year at the Connacht finals of the Irish Restaurant Awards.
- Overall: Lignum, Bullaun, Loughrea
- Café: POTA
- Casual Dining: Guys Seafood Bar
- Chef: Alice Jary, Rúibín Bar & Restaurant
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Blackrock Cottage
- Customer Service: Frends Restaurant
- Employee Excellence Award: Jamie Farrell, The Connacht Hotel
- Gastro Pub: McSwiggans
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Owenmore Restaurant at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
- Innovator: Ugly D’s Pizza
- Local Food Hero: Margaret Leahy of Fable Tours
- Newcomer: Oifig An Fish
- Pub: Lowry’s Bar
- Restaurant Manager: Maude Heslin-Brick, Dela Restaurant
- Sustainable Practices: Kali Coffee Bar
- Use of Social Media: Urban Fire
- Wine Experience: Daróg Wine Bar
- World Cuisine: Mama Rich Woodquay
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
Galway:
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 –
Galway offers a delightful mix of cultural heritage and coastal beauty, with Galway City’s Latin Quarter showcasing historic streets and traditional music venues. The Connemara National Park provides hiking trails through rugged mountains and bogs, while the Aran Islands offer ancient stone forts like Dún Aonghasa. Other favourite stop is ithe Kylemore Abbey’s Victorian gardens and coastal cliffs. Galway is Ireland’s second largest county by size (5,939 sq km) and fifth largest by population (277,737). Population peaked at 440,198 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 148,340 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Galway is Ireland’s third most visited tourist county with around 1,028,000 international visitors per year.
Here is the link to the 2024 county Galway 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
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
