These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Leitrim
- 1st Place: Carrick-on-Shannon – The vibrant capital of Leitrim is a premier destination for inland waterway tourism, centred on the River Shannon and Shannon-Erne Waterway. Attractions include its charming marina, excellent boutiques and restaurants, the landmark Costello Chapel (one of the world’s smallest), and its reputation as a centre for music and boating holidays.
- 2nd Place: Dromod – A vital hub on the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Dromod is a paradise for water enthusiasts, with its busy marina, boating facilities, and popular waterside restaurants. The historic Dromod Railway Station, part of the Cavan & Leitrim Railway, offers scenic heritage train rides, adding to its nostalgic appeal.
- 3rd Place: Dromahair – A historic village brimming with character, nestled beside the River Bonet in the shadow of the legendary Benbulben. It is famed for its connection to W.B. Yeats, the atmospheric ruins of 16th-century Creevelea Abbey, and as a tranquil stop on the Sligo Way walking route.
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 Leitrim winners were:
- Overall: The Cottage Restaurant, Jamestown
- Café: Jinny’s Tearooms
- Casual Dining: The Brandywell
- Chef: Sonata Horkan, The Red Bank Restaurant
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Lavender Restaurant
- Customer Service: The Selkie
- Employee Excellence Award: Mary Burke, Cryans Hotel
- Gastro Pub: The Oarsman
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Sandstone Restaurant at Lough Rynn Castle
- Innovator: The Red Bank Restaurant
- Local Food Hero: Áine Faughnan of Dromod Boxty
- Newcomer: FIKA
- Pub: Flynn’s Bar
- Restaurant Manager: Jacinta Callaghan, The Oarsman
- Sustainable Practices: Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway
- Use of Social Media: Buffalo Boy
- Wine Experience: The Red Bank Restaurant
- World Cuisine: Spice India
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
Leitrim:
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 –
Leitrim is a haven of waterways and unspoilt scenery, with the Shannon-Erne Waterway offering tranquil boating and fishing opportunities. Carrick-on-Shannon’s historic Costello Chapel and vibrant marina provide cultural and leisurely appeal, while Glencar Waterfall adds natural beauty. Leitrim is Ireland’s seventh smallest county by size (1,525 square km) and smallest by population (35,199). Population peaked at 155,297 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 25,057 in 1996. In terms of hospitality, Leitrim is Ireland’s 29th most visited tourist county with around 39,000 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
