CIÉ Tours presented awards based on feedback from nearly 30,000 North American visitors in 2025.
The event marked the 34th year of recognising Irish hoteliers and tourist experience operators. Jack Burtchaell received the National Heritage Award for completing his 10,000th walking tour in Waterford City.
Fourteen gold awards went to partners with the highest customer satisfaction ratings in their categories.
Minister Seán Canney shared: “These awards are a testament to the high standards of quality that each operator holds and is a well-deserved recognition of their work in welcoming CIÉ Tours visitors to Ireland, providing them with unique and unrivalled experiences”.
“Tourism is a vital part of the Irish economy, impacting every town and village across the country and is a key source of employment for people in many rural communities. The government recognises the importance of the sector and recently launched a National Tourism Policy Statement which sets out a clear ambition to enhance tourism’s economic contribution, support regional development, and ensure the industry remains inclusive, sustainable, and adaptable to future challenges. This is supported by the provision of €233 million in Budget 2026 for the Tourism Services programme which aims to drive regional development and employment in the sector”.
Aidan Murphy, Chairman, CIÉ Tours shared: “CIÉ Tours has been playing a leading role in promoting Ireland as a tourist destination for almost 95 years and continues to perform at a high level on the international stage which has had a significant impact on the Irish economy. As a market leader in the USA, one of the most competitive markets in the world, CIÉ Tours has helped to increase the number of U.S. visitors to Ireland, who contribute to 31% of visitor spend, which amounted to €1.87 billion in 2024.”
Stephen Cotter, Managing Director, CIÉ Tours shared “2025 was another landmark year for CIÉ Tours, when we booked over 250,000 bed nights throughout Ireland. That we can offer a unique experience unrivalled by any other country is due in no small part to our many partners who work closely with us, taking the feedback from our visitors and continuously refining their offering.”
“Our support for tourism destinations is bringing vital revenue to towns and villages across the country.
“We are continuously developing our offering, developing new and sustainable tours that will allow our visitors to experience the very best that Ireland has to offer.”
Awards of Excellence
- 5 star hotel: The Europe, Killarney, county Kerry
- 4 star hotel: Ballygarry Estate, Tralee, county Kerry
- 3 star hotel: Dooley’s Hotel, Waterford
- Accommodation: Kilronan Castle Estate, county Roscommon
- Dinner Feature: Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, county Limercik
- Entertainment: The Crosskeys Inn, Toomebridge, county Antrim
- Hotel Dinner: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket, county Clare
- Lunch: Taylors Three Rock, Dublin
- National Heritage Award: Jack Burtchaell Waterford Walking Tours
- Service & Hospitality: Great Southern Killarney, county Kerry
- Sheep Dog Trial: Atlantic Sheepdogs, Streedagh, County Sligo
- Tour Feature: Marine Bar Waterford
- Visit: Long Meadow Cider, Portadown, county Armagh
- Walking Tour: Westport Walking Tour, county Mayo
Hotel merits Connacht:
- Galmont Hotel, Galway
- Galway Bay Hotel
- Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, county Mayo
Hotel merits: Leinster
- Academy Plaza Hotel, Dublin
- Aloft Dublin City
- Ashling Hotel, Dublin
- Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin
- Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane, Dublin
- Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin
- College Green Hotel, Dublin
- Croke Park Hotel, Dublin
- Dunboyne Castle Hotel, county Meath
- Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, county Dublin
- Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin
- Hyatt Centric the Liberties, Dublin
- Lyrath Estate, Kilkenny
- Maldron Hotel Pearse St. Dublin
- Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin
- Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire
- Shelbourne, Dublin
- Sheraton Athlone Hotel, county Westmeath
Hotel merits: Munster
- Dingle Skellig Hotel, county Kerry
- Dunraven Adare, county Limerick
- Hayfield Manor, Cork city
- International Hotel Killarney, county Kerry
- Killarney Avenue Hotel, county Kerry
- Killarney Plaza Hotel, county Kerry
- Killarney Towers Hotel, county Kerry
- Kinsale Hotel, County Cork
- Limerick Strand Hotel
- River Lee Hotel, Cork city
- Rose Hotel, Tralee, county Kerry
Hotel Merits Ulster
- Cabra Castle Kingscourt, county Cavan,
- Culloden Estate, Holywood, county Down
- Ebrington Hotel, Derry city
- Europa Hotel, Belfast, county Antrim
- Grand Central Hotel Belfast, county Antrim
- Hilton Belfast, county Antrim
- Hotel Belfast, county Antrim
- Mill Park Hotel, Donegal town
Visit Merits Connacht
- Corrib Princess Cruise, Woodquay, Galway
- Dún Aonghasa, Inis Mór, Aran Islands
- Killary Harbour Cruise, Leenaun
- Kylemore Abbey, county Galway
- Strokestown Park, county Roscommon
- Westport House, county Mayo
Visit merits: Leinster
- Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre, county Offaly
- Dublin Castle
- Dunbrody Emigrant Ship, New Ross, county Wexford
- Experience Glasnevin, Dublin
- Glendalough Visitor Centre, county Wicklow
- Gretta Power Bungalow B&B, Freshford, county Kilkenny
- Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
- Irish National Stud & Gardens, Kildare town
- Jameson Distillery Bow Street, Dublin
- Johnstown Castle, county Wexford
- Malahide Castle & Gardens, Dublin
- Russborough House, county Wicklow
- Sean’s Bar, Athlone, county Westmeath
- Sullivan’s Taproom, Kilkenny town
- Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Dublin
Visit Merits Munster:
- Blarney Castle, county Cork
- Cliffs of Moher, county Clare
- Foynes Flying Boat Museum, county Limerick
- House of Waterford Crystal, Waterford city
- John B Keanes Pub, Listowel, county Kerry
- Killarney Horse & Carriage Tours, county Kerry
- Midleton Distillery Experience, county Cork
- Tangney Tours Jaunting Car, Killarney, county Kerry
Visit Merits Ulster:
- Donegal Castle
- Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, county Down
- Giant’s Causeway, county Antrim
- Glenveagh Castle & National Park, county Donegal
- Hillsborough Castle & Gardens, county Down
- Saint Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick, county Down
- Slieve League Cliffs Centre, county Donegal
The event validated outstanding performance in hospitality, service, and visitor experiences across Ireland, highlighting the sector’s commitment to quality and welcoming standards that drive repeat business and positive word-of-mouth for the destination.
Hotels top eight 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
Hotels
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
Attractions
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
Pubs
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
Spas
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
Ireland county 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
