Mayo restaurant named Ireland’s ‘Happy Place’ at national awards

Westport’s An Port Mór has been named Ireland’s ‘Happy Place’ at the 2026 Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards.

The Mayo restaurant, led by chef Frankie Mallon, received the Georgina Campbell ‘Happy Place’ Award at a gala ceremony celebrating excellence across Ireland’s food and hospitality sector.

Now in their fourth decade, the awards are among the longest-running of their kind in Ireland. Winners are selected following independent, year-round assessments by a team of experts who book anonymously and pay their bills like any other guest.

Describing An Port Mór, the judges praised the Westport restaurant as “compact, lively and full of personality”, highlighting its combination of high-quality food and welcoming atmosphere.

They noted the restaurant’s use of Mayo lamb, Irish beef and local produce, while seafood was singled out as a particular strength, reflecting its location close to Clew Bay.

The judges also praised the personal service and convivial atmosphere at the restaurant, noting its loyal local following alongside visitors who plan trips to Westport around a booking.

“A Happy Place is not necessarily the grandest or most fashionable room,” the judges said. “It is somewhere that lifts the spirits through warmth, flavour and human connection.”

They added that Frankie Mallon and his team “richly deserve this affectionate recognition”.

Speaking at the awards, Georgina Campbell highlighted the importance of the personal connection at the heart of hospitality, warning that human interaction is increasingly under pressure from technology, automation and digital transactions.

She said the 2026 awards celebrated something that “cannot be automated” — the human touch — and stressed the importance of creating memorable experiences for guests.

Hospitality personality Francis Brennan echoed those sentiments during a panel discussion at the awards, saying exceptional customer service and generosity were essential to building loyalty and creating memorable experiences.

The awards were supported by Bord Bia, The Shed Distillery and the Irish Wine Makers Association.

The recognition adds to Westport’s growing profile as a food and hospitality destination, with An Port Mór receiving national recognition for both its food and the warm atmosphere created by its team.