The Olde Glen Pub in County Donegal is among the close to 30 recipients of the 2021 Georgina Campbell Awards, a prestigious competition that recognizes Ireland’s top achievers in the hospitality industry.
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Among the Irish hospitality awards winners are Ireland’s best hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, guesthouses, pet-friendly destinations, and more.
Here are some of the winners, including the more affordable options for travelers interested in visiting Ireland on a budget.
Pub of the Year: The Olde Glen Pub
The Donegal pub, located about 25 minutes from the town of Letterkenny, is the county’s oldest public house.
It was established in 1768.
While locally it is known as “Mary’s of the Glen,” after its former proprietor Mary McLaughlin, the Olde Glen Pub is not only popular because of its authenticity (original flagstone floors, low ceilings, and an “ancient, weathered bar” contribute to its image) but also for its excellent food and value for money, says Campbell.
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She describes the fare at The Olde Glen Pub as the “best value food experience in Ireland.”
The Cost: a 4-course meal at The Olde Glen restaurant will cost you approximately €50/$58. Reservations must be made in advance.
Food is also available at the bar on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m., and Thursdays through Sundays, from 12 to 9 p.m.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Bia Box, located in a converted horsebox at the rear of the pub, serves up delicious sandwiches and more.
Read More: Six Days in Donegal: Exploring the County's Spectacular Locations
Guesthouse of the Year: Castlewood House, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Beautiful sea and mountain views, as well as the hospitality of owners Brian and Helen Heaton, are among the highlights of a stay at Castlewood House, located less than 5 minutes from the town of Dingle.
The Heatons offer four different types of rooms, including classic, superior, and deluxe rooms as well as a junior suite. All are priced differently and according to the season.
The Cost: Pay as little as €96/$112 per night in the off-season for a Classic Room.
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Country House of the Year: Enniscoe House, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Despite what Campbell describes as a country house that can “sometimes seem stern and gaunt, as Georgian mansions in the north-west of Ireland tend to be,” Enniscoe House located on the shores of Lough Conn is a warm, inviting place.
Family portraits, crackling log fires, and delicious home cooking combine to make this superb Co. Mayo accommodation Country House of the Year.
Owner Susan Kellett’s ancestors built the house between 1740 and 1750.
Additions to the house were made in the 1790s.
The interior of the house includes elegant late Georgian plasterwork, a spiral staircase that leads to an oval landing area, and front reception rooms that contain friezes of sphinxes and foliage.
The original silk designer wallpaper of the time still survives in the drawing-room, although it is now a mushroom pink compared to its original pale blue.
The house contains several en-suite bedrooms, all traditionally furnished.
In addition to its restored walled gardens, the converted outbuildings at the back of the house are where you will find The North Mayo Family History Research Centre, a great resource for tourists researching their Mayo ancestors.
The Cost: Bed and breakfast rates average between €95 and €135 per night ($111 to $158). Special packages are also available.
Read More: The Best in Irish Food: Traveling Through Mayo and Galway
B&B of the Year: Hazelwood Lodge, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Campbell says a “big welcome and genuine hospitality” are staples at this popular bed and breakfast, which is located in the Burren region of County Clare.
Owners Victor and Geraldine McSweeney work together with their daughter and chef Lesley, who not only does much of the cooking but uses the produce from the family garden to enhance the B&B’s culinary efforts.
She is also the proprietor of the Hazelwood Bakery, which specializes in organic sourdough bread, which is of course, available at her parents’ B&B.
There is a range of rooms and suites to choose from at the Hazelwood Lodge.
They include superior twin, double, and combination twin/double rooms as well as several suites.
A self-catering 3-bedroom cottage is also available.
The Cost: The average rate for a superior double room is €120/$140 per night.
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Pet-Friendly Destination of the Year: The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co. Galway
If you’re traveling with pets, this is the place to stay, according to Campbell, who awarded The Twelve Hotel in Barna the “Pet-Friendly Destination of the Year.”
The hotel’s three “pet suites” include a pet lobby with toys, a water bowl, bones, leashes, and towels.
If you sign up for the hotel’s Pampered Pet Program, you’ll get a whole lot of extras at no additional charge.
They include a welcome “doggie bag” complete with a toy, a treat, and clean-up bags. All you need to do is to provide a refundable €50 per night.
A pet menu is also available, in addition to a doggie room service and pet concierge service with information on discounts for local dog walkers, sitters, groomers, dog boutiques, veterinarians, and more.
The Cost: The average nightly rate at The Twelve Hotel is €111/$131.
Family-friendly Hotel of the Year: Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare, Co. Limerick
Children will feel right at home at Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare, says Campbell.
The hotel boasts a mini pet farm, a walking trail where kids can participate in a nature/bug hunt, a Woodlands Fairy Trail, a playing field suitable for sports of all kinds, as well as a family toddler pool.
Families can also sign their kids up for the popular Woody’s Kids Club
The award-winning 4-star hotel sits on 44 acres that include landscaped gardens and an organic area.
There are several Deluxe and Superior rooms at the 89-room hotel, in addition to suites and family rooms.
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Knowing how fussy kids can be with food, the hotel has created a special menu that will suit all tastebuds.
Dining is available at the hotel's Timmy Mac's Bistro. A takeaway service is available from The Treehouse.
The Cost: The cheapest rate at the hotel is approximately €133/$155 per night.