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.
- Best Restaurant (Connacht Winner and Overall County Winner): Lignum, Bullaun, Loughrea, A modern fine-dining restaurant in a rural setting near Loughrea, specialising in creative, ingredient-focused contemporary Irish cuisine using local produce.
- Best Chef: Alice Jary of Rúibín Bar & Restaurant, Galway City, A talented chef acclaimed for her innovative seasonal cooking and bold flavours in this popular city-centre bar and restaurant.
- Best Restaurant Manager: Maude Heslin-Brick of Dela Restaurant, Galway City, An exceptional manager recognised for her leadership and outstanding contribution to service excellence in this acclaimed venue.
- Best Gastro Pub (All-Ireland Winner): McSwiggans, Galway City, A vibrant historic pub in the city centre celebrated for its excellent pub food, lively atmosphere, and innovative gastro offerings.
- Best Wine Experience: Daróg Wine Bar, Dominick Street, Galway City, An intimate wine bar specialising in natural, biodynamic, and organic wines paired with creative small plates.
- Best World Cuisine: Mama Rich, Woodquay, Galway City, A lively spot offering bold flavours from Asian-inspired cuisine in a central city location.
Michelin Star
- Aniar, Galway City, A forward-thinking restaurant by chef JP McMahon focusing on modern Irish cuisine with foraged and local ingredients in a minimalist setting.
- Lignum, Bullaun, Loughrea, A newly starred venue offering refined, creative tasting menus in a serene rural location.
Bib Gourmand:
- Daróg, Galway City, Recognised for excellent value with natural wines and inventive small plates in a cosy wine bar atmosphere.
- Recommended (selected prominent examples):
- Kai Restaurant, Galway City, Known for its seasonal, ingredient-driven modern Irish dishes in a relaxed neighbourhood setting.
- The Pullman, Galway City, A stylish spot delivering high-quality contemporary fare.
- Blackthorn (at The Twelve Hotel), Bearna, A newcomer praised for its modern cuisine in a hotel setting near Galway City.
- George V, Galway City, An elegant dining room offering classic and refined dishes.
- Owenmore, Ballynahinch Castle, Ballinafad, A luxurious castle restaurant specialising in seasonal, local produce with stunning estate views.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- 5-Star Hotel of the Year: Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate, Bushypark, Galway City, A luxurious historic estate hotel with exceptional hospitality and dining overlooking Lough Corrib.
- Country House: Lough Inagh Lodge, Connemara, A picturesque former sporting lodge set against the Twelve Bens with intimate, high-quality stays and dining.
- Wine Experience Award: Daróg Wine Bar, Galway City, Honoured for its outstanding selection of natural and organic wines and complementary food pairings.
- Galway’s dining scene in stands out for its blend of urban innovation in the city and refined rural excellence in areas like Loughrea and Connemara, with strong performances across national awards, particularly in fine dining, wine, and gastro pub categories.
Restaurants Association of Ireland full list
The 2025 Connacht provincial awards ceremony took place on Tuesday 8th April, Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Rosses Point, County Sligo
- 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 – Overall – County winners – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
2025 Restaurants Association of Ireland 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 Restaurants Association of Ireland 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
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.
