Knockranny crowned best hotel restaurant in Ireland

Knockranny crowned best hotel restaurant in Ireland


Rowan Gallagher

MAYO restaurants scoped five awards at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2010 last Wednesday with Knockranny House Hotel, Westport stealing the show by being named Best Hotel Restaurant in Ireland.
In the regional categories, Knockranny Head Chef, Seamus Commons also won the accolade of Best Chef while the Ice House in Ballina won Best Restaurant Design 2010.
“We are delighted with this recognition from our industry peers, food critics and the general public. It is a fantastic achievement for our Restaurant Manager, Deirdre Cullen, Head Chef, Seamus Commons and for their hard working and committed teams,” said Knockranny Hotel owner, Adrian Noonan last week.
Chapter One Restaurant, Dublin won the overall prize of Best Restaurant in Ireland.
Nominations for the awards were made by readers of the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
With over 16,000 votes cast the public vote closed at 12 midnight on May 28 with the winners being chosen in the interim.
Tickets for the event were sold out almost two weeks before the ceremony began in the Burlington Hotel Dublin.
Tickets for the event cost €120 each for a five course gala meal, champaign reception and access to the ceremony, a discount of €200 was give to tables of 10 people.
Since their inception, the Irish Restaurant Awards have cast a spotlight on Irelands hottest restaurants, best customer service, most innovative menus and best chefs.
The Mike Butt award which is awarded to the person whom has gone above the call of duty and has made an outstanding contribution to the Irish Restaurant Industry went to celebrity chief, Darina Allen.
In the regional finals Sol Rio, Westport won Best Casual Dining, An Port Mor, Westport won Best Restaurant and Paddy Jordan’s, Ballina won Best Gastro Pub.
Paul Cadden, president of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, told 700 guests at the awards ceremony that restaurants were the ‘economic engine rooms’ in every town in Ireland, creating and maintaining much needed employment saying, “Our industry has annual sales in excess of €2 billion and we employ 64,000 people.”