South Roscommon pub shortlisted for Pub of the Year

Coffeys Pub in Lecarrow was recognised as Roscommon's best pub at the recent Connaught Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards.

The local pub will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title of 'Pub of the Year'.

The Connaught Regional Final of the awards was held in the Landmark Hotel, Leitrim on Tuesday.

Over 600 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the awards event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Connaught turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Speaking at the Connaught Regional Awards, Vice President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Mark McGowan, said the awards were "an opportunity to celebrate the existing and up and coming talent in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without the dedicated and passionate staff in the industry."

"The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. With well over 100,000 nominations received from the public this year, the standard for the judging process was higher than ever," he said.

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of: Local Food Hero, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and, finally, a new award category for 2022, Best Sustainable Practices.

All of the Connaught Award winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday, September 19 in the Convention Centre Dublin.

Other Roscommon winners on the night were:

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times: Molloys Bakery in Ballypheasan, Roscommon, Declan Molloy and Mary T Molloy

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland: Rogue And Co in Roscommon Town

Best Free From Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro: Fusion Roscommon in Roscommon Town

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD: Regans Gastro Pub and Restaurant in Roscommon Town

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services: Keenans Hotel Bar and Restaurant, Tarmonbarry, David Keenan

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland: The Purple Onion Kitchen in Tarmonbarry

Best Café Sponsored by Illy: Bastion K2Tchen Castlerea

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino: Zaiqa Restaurant Roscommon in Roscommon Town

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square: Lovage Lovage at the Gate Lodge in Boyle

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace: Regans Gastro Pub and Restaurant in Roscommon Town

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite: Keenans Hotel Bar and Restaurant in Tarmonbarry

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen: Lovage At The Gate Lodge in Boyle

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS: Hesters Golden Eagle Bar and Restaurant in Castlerea

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice: Kilronan Castle Ballyforan, Daniel Willimont

Best Restaurant Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants: The Old Stone House Restaurant in Ballinlough, Castlerea