Irish Hotels Federation names Mayo’s Ciara Faherty employee of the year

The Irish Hotels Federation has named Ciara Faherty employee of the year. Ciara has worked in the Castlecourt hotel since she was 17 years of age. The interview took place on February 7 at the Midland Park Hotel, showcasing finalists from across the country in the hospitality sector.

The award recognizes exceptional contributions of hotel team members, with a total of over 150 nominations nationwide and 11 other regional Branch winners acknowledged for their efforts.

Faherty’s career began with the Westport Hotel Group in 2014 at Portos Restaurant, and she currently excels as the Over 55s Group Coordinator, enhancing customer experiences through tailored themed breaks.

Each finalist shared unique stories, including experiences ranging from working as an equine concierge to becoming a charter accountant. Many finalists began their careers in hospitality at a young age, often discovering their passion for the industry early on and advancing through various roles.

Participants demonstrated a commitment to professional development, pursuing further education and specialized qualifications alongside their hotel careers.

At the awards ceremony Donough Davern said: I had the immense honor of interviewing finalists in the Midland Park Hotel on the seventh of February last, representing each of the branches all around the country, all showcasing the best of what Irish hospitality has to offer, from chef to party to a sales coordinator, and the concierge assistant to an accommodation supervisor, a front office supervisor to a wedding coordinator, a food and beverage supervisor to a receptionist, a restaurant supervisor to an over 55 group coordinator, and even an equine concierge. Each had a unique and interesting story to tell us.

One finalist studied hospitality in Sri Lanka and, having honed their skills while working in Dubai, felt that adjusting to the Irish culture wasn’t an issue; it was the adjustment to our weather which took a lot of getting used to. Having begun cooking with his mother, he now mentors young chefs, helping them to find their way in the hotel kitchen. A number of our finalists started working at a young age in the hotels, cutting their teeth in the sector at 16 and even 15 years old. One said that this was when she discovered her love for the hospitality industry and is still progressing seven years later, having studied for a degree in Kerry, gained experience in America, and worked in two Irish hotels.

The other finalists also studied in the hospitality area and, having led to work in local radio, came back to the sector a number of years later, but still continue to professional development by gaining a qualification in counseling and psychotherapy. One of our finalists went to veterinary school in his home country of Brazil and, having qualified as a vet in 2020, came to Ireland to study English, working in both McDonald’s and the five-star Savoy Hotel in Limerick before landing a front desk position and progressing to the accounts department, where he is now studying to be a charter accountant.

It’s not just a vet we spoke to; another of our finalists studied equine science before combining her lifelong passion for horses with hotels, working as a spa therapist along the way to become an equine concierge, getting her guests access to the competent horse rides of Ballydoyle and Coolmore, and even introducing her guests to world-famous trainer Aidan O’Brien, though she does say she can’t promise this to every guest who goes on her tour. One of our finalists was left waiting three hours for her interview; they had forgotten about her, but having successfully secured her job, has worked her way up in that hotel and has now been there nearly 15 years.

Another milks 14 cows at her home farm before she comes to work every day. We also have a finalist who studies theater and drama as a full-time student and balances his studies with a full-time front office supervisor’s position in a five-star hotel, finding that theater and drama have a lot in common with hotel life. I want to share with you this evening some quotes which we gathered at the interview, which demonstrated to the interview panel that these individuals have been judged finalists in the national awards, and these awards are ones that I am sure all employers would like to hear.

Mr Magner shared: ‘Ciara’s dedication, hard work and unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding service to her customers is truly admirable. Across the country, hotel and guesthouse teams go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for guests, showcasing the best of what makes Irish hospitality so great. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the over 66,000 people working throughout Ireland’s hotel sector nationwide and emphasised the diverse range of career opportunities showcased in this year’s list of nominees and local Branch winners.

IHF Mayo Chair, Declan Heneghan shared: “On behalf of all our members in Mayo, I would like to congratulate Ciara on winning this amazing award. Ciara is a fantastic ambassador for our hotels sector. She consistently goes above and beyond in delivering excellent service when interacting with customers and guests. She is a testament to the thousands of hard-working front facing hotel team members throughout the country, who deliver genuine hospitality and customer care every day. Well done Ciara.”

The full shortlist: