These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Offaly
- 1st: Birr – A historic and elegant town, Birr is famed for Birr Castle Demesne, home to the Great Telescope (the largest in the world for 70 years) and magnificent gardens. Its wide, Georgian streets are lined with independent shops and cafes, all kept immaculately. The town’s scientific heritage, the River Camcor walkways, and its overall grandeur make it a top-tier destination.
- 2nd: Tullamore – The county town, Tullamore, has undergone a remarkable renaissance. It’s the spiritual home of Tullamore D.E.W. Whiskey, with a fantastic visitor centre. The town is centred around the Grand Canal, with lovely marina walks, a vibrant retail scene, and the modern Tullamore Dew Bridge. Community tidiness groups work hard on its parks and approach roads.
- 3rd: Geashill – A classic, tranquil Irish village that exemplifies rural community spirit. Geashill is noted for its beautiful traditional built heritage, including thatched cottages, a historic castle (privately owned), and an impeccably maintained village green with a stunning horse sculpture. It’s a picture-postcard example of dedication to local environment and heritage.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Offaly
- Overall: Sanjay’s Kitchen, Birr
- Café: The Foxy Bean
- Casual Dining: JJ Killeen’s
- Chef: Okan Kiraz, Captain House Restaurant
- Customer Service: The Brewery Tap
- Employee Excellence Award: Daniela Botnari, Galileo’s Restaurant
- Gastro Pub: Old Warehouse
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Townsend House Tapas Restaurant
- Innovator of the Year: The Bog’s Dollops
- Local Food Hero: Orla Clancy of The Organic Kitchen at Fallons Bar
- Pub of the Year: JJ Houghs Singing Pub
- Restaurant Manager: Not listed
- Sustainable Practices: Tullamore Court Hotel
- Use of Social Media: JJ Houghs Singing Pub
- Wine Experience: Hackett’s Eatery at County Arms
- World Cuisine: Shishir
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
Offaly:
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 –
Offaly is a county of historic depth and natural beauty, with the Clonmacnoise monastic site featuring ancient high crosses and a riverside setting along the Shannon. Tullamore’s historic distillery provides insights into Irish whiskey production, while the Bog of Allen Nature Centre explores the county’s unique peatlands. Other attractions include the Slieve Bloom Mountains’ hiking trails. Offaly is Ireland’s 18th largest county by size (1,998 square km) and ninth smallest by population (83,150). Population peaked at 146,857 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 51,533 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Offaly is Ireland’s 30th most visited (and third least visited) tourist county with around 37,000 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
