Mayo bar named finalist for national ‘Best Place to Work’ award
Local hospitality venue has been shortlisted at the prestigious eir Chamber Awards 2026 for its team culture and community focus
Ballina’s Bar Square has been named a finalist in the ‘Best Place to Work’ category at the prestigious eir Chamber Awards 2026, earning national recognition for its workplace culture and team-focused approach.
The all-day and all-night venue, located in the heart of Ballina, is among a shortlist of leading hospitality businesses, engineering firms and national employers recognised for excellence in leadership, innovation and workplace environment.
Hosted by Chambers Ireland and eir, the annual awards celebrate outstanding achievements across Irish business, with finalists set to gather at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre this June for a ceremony.
For Bar Square, the nomination marks a major milestone and recognition of the people behind the business. Owner Clair Carr said the recognition reflects the efforts of staff across every aspect of the venue.
“Bar Square simply wouldn’t be what it is without the incredible people behind it,” she said. “From our floor staff and bar staff to security, kitchen, cleaning and management; every single person plays a part in creating the atmosphere and experience people know us for.
“Hospitality can be a fast-paced and demanding industry to work in, but we’ve always believed that when you look after your team, it shows in everything else. To be recognised nationally for that means a huge amount to us.”
Over the past year, Bar Square has continued to expand. Its upstairs venue is currently being developed into a flexible event space for private functions and local gatherings. The venue now caters for engagements, milestone birthdays, meetings and community events as part of a broader vision to create a more versatile and welcoming space.
The venue has also expanded its live entertainment programme, introducing earlier live music sessions, Friday karaoke nights and Sunday community barbecues aimed at attracting a broader audience and strengthening community links.
As part of its renewed focus on local talent and live performance, Bar Square will launch a new Open Mic Summer Series on June 4, running every Thursday throughout the summer.
Ms Carr said the long-term ambition for the venue is to create a place that feels deeply connected to the community.
“We want Bar Square to be more than somewhere people simply go for a night out,” she said. “Whether it’s food, celebrations, live music, community events or giving young performers a platform, we want it to feel like a place that brings people together.”
The eir Chamber Awards finalists represent businesses from across Ireland recognised for excellence in workplace culture, leadership and innovation, with winners due to be announced later this month.