- Pig’s Lane in Killarney won the title of Bar of the Year 2026.
- The underground bar features a whiskey parlour with over 400 bottles.
- Founded by Gemma Ring, the venue opened in 2023.
- The awards are organised by Ashville Media Group and Licensing World.
- Silken Thomas won People’s Choice Overall Winner.
Pig’s Lane, an underground bar in Killarney, Co. Kerry, has taken home the title of ‘Bar of the Year’ at the 2026 Bar of the Year Awards on Monday evening at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road.
The candle-lit venue is known for its hand-crafted cocktails, vegan wines, locally sourced snacks, and live music, as well as a whiskey parlour packed with over 400 rare, quality bottles. Founded by Gemma Ring, owner of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection, the award-winning venue has become a popular destination since it opened in 2023.
The subterranean venue is built on the site of the original Pig’s Lane, a laneway dating back to the 1800s, and can be found within Killarney Towers Hotel on College Street. The Bar of the Year Awards in Ireland are organised and run by the Ashville Media Group, with Licensing World acting as the official media partner and co-organiser of the annual competition. The full list of winners includes Pig’s Lane as Cocktail Bar of the Year (Gold) and Joe O’Callaghan as Bar Manager of the Year (Gold).
Other winners included Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare, as People’s Choice Overall Winner, and Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar, Co. Galway, as Whiskey Bar of the Year (Gold). The awards recognise excellence across various categories, including Traditional Bar of the Year, won by The Stag’s Head, Co. Dublin, and Hotel Bar of the Year, won by Cask, Co. Cork. The event celebrates the diversity and quality of Ireland’s bar industry.
ALL the winners:
- Bar of the year: Pig’s Lane, Co. Kerry
- People’s Choice: Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare
- People’s Choice Connacht/Ulster: McHugh’s Bar, Co. Leitrim
- People’s Choice Dublin: The George, Co. Dublin
- People’s Choice Leinster: Silken Thomas, Co. Kildare
- People’s Choice Munster: Geary’s Bar, Charleville, Co. Cork
- Bar Food: Paladar Co. Cork, 2nd: The White House Co. Cork, 3rd: Blake’s Bar Galway Co. Galway
- Bar Manager: Joe O’Callaghan Tom Sheridan’s Bar & Restaurant Co. Galway, 2nd: Samantha Brauer r.i.o.t. Co. Dublin, 3rd: Oisin Kelly The Sidecar The Westbury Co. Dublin
- Best Bar to Watch The Match: Woolshed Baa & Grill Cork Co. Cork, 2nd: Slattery’s of Beggars Bush Co. Dublin, 3rd: Rising Sons Brewery Co. Cork
- City Bar: Café en Seine Co. Dublin, 2nd: The King’s Head Co. Galway, 3rd: Left Bank Co. Kilkenny
- Cocktail Bar: Pig’s Lane Co. Kerry, 2nd: Cask Co. Cork, 3rd: BAR 1661 Co. Dublin
- Cocktail Bartender: Akram Bendjeddou Paladar Co. Cork, 2nd: Stefi Fletcher Bar 1661 Co. Dublin, 3rd: Maroje Milosevic The Sidecar The Westbury Co. Dublin
- Five Star Hotel Bar: The Cellar Bar The Merrion Hotel Co. Dublin, 2nd: The Sidecar The Westbury Co. Dublin, 3rd: Prince of Wales Ashford Castle Co. Mayo
- Gail Cotter Lifetime Achievement Award: Vivian Carroll
- Gastro Bar: The Old Spot Co. Dublin, 2nd: Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen Cashel Palace Co. Tipperary, 3rd: The Eagle Glasthule Co. Dublin
- Hotel Bar: Cask Co. Cork, 2nd: The Mercantile Co. Dublin, 3rd: Fitzgerald’s Bar at The Imperial Hotel Co. Cork
- Hotel Cocktail Bar: The Collins Club The Leinster Co. Dublin, 2nd: The Sidecar The Westbury Co. Dublin, 3rd: Pen & Player Cocktail Bar The Green Hotel Co. Dublin
- Innovative Bar: The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse Co. Kildare, 2nd: Botanic Dublin Co. Dublin, 3rd: Cruises Bar Ennis Co. Clare
- Late Bar / Nightclub: The George Co. Dublin, 2nd: 4 Dame Lane Co. Dublin, 3rd: Crane Lane Theatre Co. Cork
- Local Bar: The Laurels Clondalkin Co. Dublin, 2nd: The Bath Pub Co. Dublin, 3rd: Deery’s Bar & Lounge Co. Monaghan
- Restaurant Bar: SOLE Seafood & Grill Co. Dublin, 2nd: McSwiggans Galway Co. Galway, 3rd: The Gables Foxrock Co. Dublin
- Tourist Bar: Sin É Co. Cork, 2nd: An Pucan Co. Galway, 3rd: The Quay’s Temple Bar Co. Dublin
- Traditional Bar: The Stag’s Head Co. Dublin, 2nd: Mother Macs Public House Co. Limerick, 3rd: Peadar’s Bar Moate Co. Westmeath
- Visitor Attraction: Celtic Nights at The Arlington Hotel Co. Dublin, 2nd: Treaty City Brewery Co. Limerick, 3rd: Franciscan Well Brewpub Co. Cork
- Whiskey Bar: Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar Co. Galway, 2nd: Mother Macs Public House Co. Limerick, 3rd: The Horseshoe Bar Co. Dublin
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
Dining
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 – Overall – County winners – Georgina Campbell – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
