Six Mayo businesses receive awards at RAI gala banquet

NEWCOMER Cian Hayes from Cian’s on Bridge Street in Westport took the Best Newcomer in Connacht award at the RAI awards.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) last week announced the winners of their All-Ireland Irish Restaurant Awards at a gala banquet in the The Clayton Hotel in Dublin and six Mayo businesses walked away with prestigious awards on the night.
Café Rua in Castlebar was the only Mayo restaurant to capture a national award, with five other businesses winning a provincial award.
Café Rua won their award in the Best Kids Size Me category, which is judged on the size and nutritional value of meals for children.
Four Mayo restaurants took Best in Connacht awards. The Best Hotel Restaurant award went to Wildes at the Lodge at Ashford; Best Newcomer went to Cian’s On Bridge Street in Westport; Best Customer Service went to the Library Restaurant at Belleek Castle in Ballina and the Best Casual Dining went to Bar One in Castlebar.
In the Pub of the Year category, John Moran’s Bar on Bridge Street in Westport took the Connacht award.
Over 900 restauranteurs and staff attended the sold out night in the Clayton Hotel, which celebrated the hard work and achievements within the industry over the last 12 months.
Chapter One restaurant in Dublin was named as the 2017 All-Ireland Best Restaurant while Danni Barry of Deanes EPIC, Antrim took home the 2017 All-Ireland Best Chef title.
Speaking at the awards, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins commented, “This is the ninth and most successful year of the Irish Restaurant Awards to date. These awards are the accolades of the Irish restaurant industry – everybody wants to win one. From over 70,000 online nominations cast earlier this year to 2,500 guests attending our regional events, it is clear that the stature, calibre and reputation of the awards is expanding at a considerable rate and it is all in aid of recognising the talent within our sector. All winners and finalists here tonight are very deserving of their awards.”