Thomas Connolly, the oldest traditional pub in County Sligo, has taken home the award for Pub of the Year at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2023.
The All-Ireland Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place on 15 May at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin.
Now in its 14th year, Dublin dominated the awards, but Thomas Connolly in Sligo took home perhaps the most revered award of all as Ireland’s Pub of the Year 2023.
The Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 – highlighting the best establishments across the island
For the 14th time, the Irish Restaurant Awards have returned to honour the best bars and restaurants across Ireland.
So, as with previous years, the awards process starts with a public vote online hosted by the Irish Times.
This is then followed by being judged by National Experts and then Regional Events in the four provinces of Ireland. Here, they announce the county winners. After a Dublin shortlist, the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards takes place.
Paul Lenehan, the President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said, “The aim of the Irish Restaurant Awards is to recognise excellence within the Irish hospitality industry.
“These awards are a celebration and acknowledgement of the hard work put in by restaurateurs and hospitality businesses and their talented staff year-round.
“Our Awards seek to highlight the overall high standards, passion & innovation present within Ireland’s food scene to ultimately celebrate the best of hospitality throughout the Island of Ireland”.
Pub of the Year 2023 – Thomas Connolly, Co. Sligo
Thomas Connolly is the oldest traditional pub in Sligo. Now, not only is it one of the best pubs in Sligo, but it is also recognised as Ireland’s prestigious Pub of the Year for 2023.
This generations-old Sligo pub has been an iconic landmark of ‘Yeats Country’ for years. This can be attributed to the warm and inviting atmosphere.
Thomas Connolly is a beloved watering hole for locals and visitors to the area alike. The bar has continued to preserve its authentic and traditional charm while keeping up with modern standards all at once.
This most likely played a huge part in winning Pub of the Year 2023. Furthermore, over the years, this bar has played host to numerous events and gatherings in the community. It is regarded as a true pillar of Sligo society.
Address: 1 Markievicz Rd, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo, F91 HC04, Ireland
Other winners at the Irish Restaurant Awards – a number of categories
For the second consecutive year, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen in Dublin 1 retained the title of Best Restaurant in Ireland.
The restaurant was awarded a perfect 10/10 by critics at the Irish Times. Paul McNamara, the head chef at Uno Mas in Dublin, took home the award for Best Chef.
Dublin cleaned up at the awards, with Library Street winning Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Pickle winning Best World Cuisine, Crudo winning Best Casual Dining, and many more.
For the Ulster Regional awards, Bo Tree took home the prize for Best World Cuisine, Roam for Best Newcomer, and OX for Best Restaurant. You can check out the full list of winners here.
