Ireland's best breakfasts (and brunch) revealed

From the best bread to the best dairy, these awards have the cream of the crop.

Ireland's best breakfasts (and brunch) revealed

When it comes to breakfast, everyone has their own go to - a full fry, porridge, toast, granola.

It can make choosing where to eat an absolute nightmare. No one wants to get into a big debate at that hour of the morning. Honestly, we haven't even had our coffee yet.

Enter the Irish Breakfast Awards to help you to choose where to enjoy the most important meal of the day.

The Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards celebrate the Irish businesses and producers that offer the best breakfasts in the country.

From the best bread to the best dairy, these awards have the cream of the crop.

For those of you who prefer a lazy brunch of a weekend, there's an award for that as well.

The Brunch Award was shortlisted to 30 venues and then the winner was chosen following a public vote.

“Brunch is now part of the fabric of Ireland’s food culture," said awards founder, Georgina Campbell.

"People truly enjoy the quality and variety of dishes on brunch menus across Ireland. So much, in fact, that brunch is now considered one of the most popular meals for people to enjoy “out”.

"It’s for this reason that we opened the Brunch Award to a public vote, and we were delighted by the hugely enthusiastic response from food lovers across the country."

Arán Bakery and Bistro in Co Kilkenny picked up the coveted award this year.

This year saw a new award introduced recognising ethical and sustainable practices.

Ashford Castle was selected as the inaugural winner of the Sustainability Award, recognised for its environmental credentials in relation to impressive sustainable practices including its food sourcing policy and commitment to sourcing the best seasonal ingredients from the west of Ireland.

It was the first five-star hotel in Ireland to be awarded GREENmark Plastic Smart recognition by GreenTravel.ie for its efforts in responsible tourism and commitment to removing all single-use plastics by 2022.

Campbell, who is one of Ireland’s foremost food and hospitality writers, said that serving up a good quality breakfast is important and can have a lasting impression on customers.

"Doing the simplest of things well is enough to encourage a return visit and build a strong reputation for your establishment, regardless of how many people you can seat."

The awards, in association with Fáilte Ireland, showed the importance of locally sourced food to tourists looking to enjoy a proper Irish experience.

"The Irish breakfast is a key part of the visitor experience and offers a unique opportunity to showcase Irish food and great visitor experiences we can be proud of," said Jenny De Saulles, Fáilte Ireland’s Sector Development Director.

Jack McCarthy – McCarthys of Kanturk, winner of the best rashers, sausages & pudding, Rachel Allen, Georgina Campbell , Tim McCarthy – McCarthys of Kanturk
Jack McCarthy – McCarthys of Kanturk, winner of the best rashers, sausages & pudding, Rachel Allen, Georgina Campbell , Tim McCarthy – McCarthys of Kanturk

Full list of winners

IRISH PRODUCER AWARDS

Meat: McCarthys of Kanturk, Kanturk, Co Cork

Eggs: Belview Eggs, Drogheda, Co Louth

Dairy: The Little Milk Company, Dungarvan, Co Waterford

Fruit: The Apple Farm, Cahir, Co Tipperary

Preserves: Filligans, Glenties, Co Donegal

IRISH BREAD AWARD

Rua Deli & Café, Castlebar, Co Mayo

IRISH BREAKFAST MENU

Hotel

Winner: Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick

Highly Commended: The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co Galway

Small Stay

Winner: Lough Bishop House, Collinstown, Co Westmeath

Highly Commended: Archways B&B, Rosslare, Co Wexford

5* HOTEL

Winner: Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

Highly Commended: Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, Co Clare

Highly Commended: Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow

4* HOTEL

Winner: Avalon House Hotel, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny

Highly Commended: Cliff at Lyons, Celbridge, Co Kildare

Highly Commended: Vaughan Lodge, Lahinch, Co Clare

3* HOTEL

Winner: Eccles Hotel, Glengarriff, Co Cork

Highly Commended: The Killeen House Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry

Highly Commended: Stauntons on the Green, Dublin

COUNTRY HOUSE

Winner: Huntington Castle & Gardens, Clonegal, Co Carlow

Highly Commended: Ashley Park House, Nenagh, Co Tipperary

Highly Commended: Ardtara Country House, Upperlands, Co Derry

GUEST HOUSE

Winner: The Quay House, Clifden, Co Galway

Highly Commended: Heatons House, Dingle, Co Kerry

Highly Commended: Lancaster Lodge, Cork

B&B

Winner: Sheedy’s Doolin Boutique B&B, Doolin, Co Clare

Highly Commended: Danny Minnies, Annagry, Co. Donegal

Highly Commended: The Wilder Townhouse, Dublin

VISITOR ATTRACTION

Winner: Hillsborough Castle Café, Hillsborough, Co Down

Highly Commended: The Commons Café at MoLI, Dublin

Highly Commended: Good Day Deli, Nano Nagle Place, Cork

SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

Winner: Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo

BRUNCH OF THE YEAR AWARD

Winner: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro, Kilkenny

Highly Commended: Seasalt Café & Deli, Cobh, Co Cork

Highly Commended: Kelly’s Kitchen, Newport, Co Mayo

Highly Commended: Sweet Geranium Café, Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim

Highly Commended: Osta Café & Wine Bar, Sligo

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CourtsFoodPlace: IrelandPlace: McCarthys of KanturkPlace: Co CorkPlace: Belview EggsPlace: DroghedaPlace: CoPlace: Louth DairyPlace: DungarvanPlace: The Apple FarmPlace: CahirPlace: FilligansPlace: GlentiesPlace: Co DonegalPlace: Castlebar, Co MayoPlace: LimerickPlace: Barna,Place: Co GalwayPlace: Lough Bishop HousePlace: CollinstownPlace: WestmeathPlace: RosslarePlace: EnniskillenPlace: Doonbeg,Place: EnniskerryPlace: Co WicklowPlace: CastlecomerPlace: KilkennyPlace: CelbridgePlace: Vaughan LodgePlace: LahinchPlace: Co ClarePlace: GlengarriffPlace: KillarneyPlace: KerryPlace: DublinPlace: Huntington CastlePlace: ClonegalPlace: CarlowPlace: Ashley Park HousePlace: NenaghPlace: TipperaryPlace: UpperlandsPlace: ClifdenPlace: GalwayPlace: DinglePlace: CorPerson: GeorginaPerson: Georgina CampbellPerson: Arán BakeryPerson: CampbellPerson: Jenny De SaullesEvent: Irish Breakfast AwardsEvent: Sustainability AwardOrganisation: BistroOrganisation: Ashford CastleOrganisation: GreenTravel.ieOrganisation: Fáilte IrelandOrganisation: IRISH PRODUCER AWARDSOrganisation: The Little Milk CompanyOrganisation: IRISH BREAKFASTOrganisation: Limerick Strand HotelOrganisation: The Twelve HotelOrganisation: Archways B&BOrganisation: Lough Erne ResortOrganisation: Trump International Golf Links & HotelOrganisation: Powerscourt Hotel Resort & SpaOrganisation: Avalon House HotelOrganisation: Eccles HotelOrganisation: The Killeen House HotelOrganisation: Stauntons onOrganisation: Ardtara Country HouseOrganisation: The Quay HouseOrganisation: Heatons HouseOrganisation: Lancaster Lodge
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