The results of the Ulster Irish Restaurant Awards are in and a broad selection of Cavan and Monaghan establishments are celebrating wins today. Over 800 restauranteurs from across Ulster attended a glitzy ceremony in the Armagh City Hotel on Wednesday to hear the results of over 160,000 public nominations.
Establishments were judged in 16 diverse categories from Local food hero, and food innovator of the year to best modern Irish cuisine, best wine experience and best employee excellence. The much-coveted best chef, best gastropub and best restaurant of the year awards showcased the best available across Ulster with Garret Galligan of the The Olde Post Inn in Cavan and Karl Breen of Wild Thyme Restaurant, Monaghan taking the best chef titles in the Northern Sound region.
The MacNean Bistro has been named Cavan's best restaurant, while in Monaghan the Courthouse Restaurant came out on top. Lynda Boylan of the Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle Hotel was named best restaurant manager 2024, while The Hive in Monaghan was awarded for best sustainable practices, Silvie's Coffee Stop in Cavan was named best newcomer and the Raglan Road Tearooms in Monaghan topped the best café category. The full list of winners in Cavan and Monaghan are listed below:
Local Food Hero: Cavan - Barry Crowe, Barry John Sausages, Monaghan - Jen Gonnelly, Monaghan Taste Club. Innovator of the Year: Cavan - The Castle Sports & Gastro Bar, Belturbet; Monaghan - Screaming Bean Cafe. Best Sustainable Practices: Cavan - Hawthorn Lodge B&B, Belturbet; Monaghan - The Hive. Best World Cuisine: Cavan - Chilli Lounge, Monaghan - Monaghan Spice. Best Café: Cavan - Latte Da; Monaghan - The Raglan Road Tearooms. Best Customer Service: Cavan – Setanta Restaurant at The Slieve Russell Hotel Golf & Country Club; Monaghan – Hillgrove Hotel, Leisure & Spa. Best Wine Experience: Cavan – The Olde Post Inn; Monaghan – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate. Best Newcomer: Cavan – Silvie’s Coffee Stop; Monaghan – Blayney Bistro. Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Cavan – The Oak Room; Monaghan – Wild Thyme Restaurant. Best Gastropub: Cavan – Murph’s Gastro Pub, Derragarra Inn; Monaghan – Andy’s Bar & Restaurant. Best Casual Dining: Cavan – Shades Bar & Grill; Monaghan – The Squealing Pig Bar & Restaurant. Pub of the Year: Cavan – Matthews Pub Virginia; Monaghan – Terry’s Bar. Employee Excellence Award: Monaghan – Leanne Duffy, Westenra Arms Hotel; Cavan – Molly O’Reilly, Hard Boiled Egg Cafe. Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Cavan – The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle Hotel; Monaghan – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate. Best Restaurant Manager: Cavan – Lynda Boylan, The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle Hotel,: Monaghan – Stephen Treanor, Neighbourhood. Best Chef:
Cavan – Garret Galligan, The Olde Post Inn; Monaghan – Karl Breen, Wild Thyme Restaurant. Best Restaurant: Cavan – Macnean House & Restaurant; Monaghan – Courthouse Restaurant
