Held on January 30th at The Galmont Hotel & Spa in Galway, the Virgin Media Gold Medal Awards 2023 celebrated Ireland’s best hotels and hospitality partners. The event was hosted by Irish radio and television presenter Anton Savage and among the many well deserving winners were The Merrion Hotel Dublin, which took home gold for Ireland’s Five Star Hotel. Other winners on the night included The Westbury, awarded gold for Ireland’s afternoon tea hotel, Headfort Arms Hotel which won Ireland’s outstanding customer service award and The Europe Hotel & Resort, Ireland’s overall supreme winner of the night.
The Virgin Media Gold Medal Awards were joined by their official sponsors O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey, Sullivan’s Brewing Company, The Firm, SHR Group, Net Affinity, Excel Recruitment, Classic Drinks, Soundtolight, BWG Food Service, Barry’s Tea, Action Recruitment, and of course the headline sponsor, Virgin Media.
These awards recognise Ireland’s finest industry leaders in hospitality and tourism. Hotels from across the island gather to celebrate each other in all different aspects of the industry, from the top Chef of the Year to the overall favourite place to stay. It is a night to appreciate and uphold the outstanding hotels and catering services across Ireland.
David Milligan of Virgin Media, the proud title sponsor of the event expressed their excitement of attending: “We are very proud to be title sponsor of the award, I think it’s really important for us to recognise excellence and show how much we appreciate everyone within the hospitality sector.”
Laura O’Brien of Classic Drinks gave her appreciation to the hotel industry: “Hospitality is a tough industry. I feel nights like this are very important to reward the people that make this industry what it is.” She went on to say how important nights like The Gold Medal Awards are when it comes to recognising the hard working teams and help with staff retention in the hospitality field.
David McSweeney of Sullivan’s Brewing Company gave praise to the gold medal awards: “There is great collaboration involved and ultimately, I think it’s about celebrating excellence.” He also highlighted some key trends in the hospitality industry including sustainability and the importance of authentic Irish experiences.
Virgin Media Gold Medal Awards 2023 winners:
Ireland’s four-star Hotel, sponsored by O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey
Gold: Horse & Jockey Hotel, Co Tipperary
Silver: Harvey’s Point, Co Donegal
Bronze: Armada Hotel, Co Clare
Ireland’s city hotel, sponsored by Sullivan’s Brewing Company
Gold: College Green Hotel, Co Dublin
Silver: The Dean Cork, Co Cork
Bronze: Ashling Hotel, Co Dublin
Ireland’s five-star resort, sponsored by Virgin Media
Gold: Adare Manor, Co Limerick
Silver: Ashford Castle Hotel, Co Mayo
Bronze: Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, Co Wicklow
Ireland’s sustainability/leading green hotel
Gold: Dromoland Castle Hotel, Co Clare
Silver: Fernhill House, Co Cork
Bronze: Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan
Ireland’s hotel breakfast
Gold: Hayfield Manor, Co Cork
Silver: Castlewood House Dingle, Co Kerry
Bronze: The Twelve Hotel, Co Galway
Ireland’s afternoon tea hotel, sponsored by Barry’s Tea
Gold: The Westbury, Co Dublin
Silver: Killarney Royal, Co Kerry
Bronze: The G Hotel & Spa, Co Galway
Ireland’s business and conference hotel
Gold: Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, Co Kildare
Silver: Great Southern Killarney, Co Kerry
Bronze: Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Dublin, Co Dublin
Ireland’s four-star hotel spa experience
Gold: Thermal Spa Village at Galgorm, Co Antrim
Silver: The Galmont Hotel & Spa, Co Galway
Bronze: The Johnstown Estate Hotel & Spa, Co Meath
Ireland’s hotel group, sponsored by Action Recruitment
Gold: MHL Hotel Collection
Ireland’s best family run hotel group, sponsored by Action Recruitment
Gold: The Blue Haven Collection, Co Cork
Ireland’s five-star hotel spa experience
Gold: Ashford Castle, Co Mayo
Silver: Dromoland Castle Hotel, Co Clare
Bronze: Dromoland Castle Hotel, Co Clare
Ireland’s country house and guest house experience
Gold: The Station House Hotel, Co Meath
Silver: Ballyvolane House, Co Cork
Bronze: Mount Falcon Estate, Co Mayo
Ireland’s wine experience, sponsored by Classic Drinks
Gold: The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo
Silver: Ashford Castle, Co Mayo
Bronze: The Twelve Hotel, Co Galway
Ireland’s menu provenance award
Gold: BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow
Silver: The Marker Dublin Hotel, Co Dublin
Bronze: Ballyvolane House, Co Cork
Ireland’s three-star hotel
Gold: Temple Bar Inn, Co Dublin
Silver: Conyngham Arms Hotel, Co Meath
Ireland’s business and catering, inc. contract catering, sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Gold: Compass Ireland, Co Dublin
Silver: Aramark @ AIB Molesworth Street, Co Dublin
Ireland’s grand wedding hotel
Gold: Mount Juliet Estate, Co Kilkenny
Silver: Armada Hotel, Co Clare
Bronze: Sligo Park Hotel & Leisure Club, Co Sligo
Ireland’s small wedding hotel
Gold: The Station House Hotel, Co Meath
Silver: Marlfield House Hotel and The Duck Restaurant, Co Wexford
Bronze: Headfort Arms Hotel. Co Meath
Ireland’s family friendly hotel, sponsored by Virgin Media
Gold: Newpark Hotel, Co Kilkenny
Silver: Amber Springs Hotel & Spa Resort, Co Wexford
Bronze: Sligo Park Hotel & Leisure Club, Co Sligo
Ireland’s castle and heritage wedding excellence
Gold: Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan
Silver: Bellingham Castle, Co Kerry
Bronze: Tankardstown House, Co Meath
Ireland’s event caterer
Gold: Claire’s Kitchen, Co Mayo
Ireland’s front of house team/team member
Gold: Cashel Palace Hotel, Co Tipperary
Silver: The Montenotte, Co Cork
Bronze: Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
Ireland’s hotel casual dining experience
Gold: O’Donoghue Public House at Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre, Co Kerry
Silver: Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, Co Kilkenny
Bronze: Diamond Coast Hotel, Co Sligo
Ireland’s five-star hotel casual dining experience
Gold: The Europe Hotel & Resort, Co Kerry
Silver: The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, Co Kerry
Bronze: Dromoland Castle Hotel, Co Clare
Ireland’s guest experience, sponsored by Net Affinity
Gold: Harvey’s Point, Co Donegal
Silver: Lough Eske Castle, Co Donegal
Bronze: No 1 Pery Square Townhouse & Spa, Co Limerick
Ireland’s tourist hotel
Gold: Great Southern Killarney, Co Kerry
Silver: Killarney Royal, Co Kerry
Bronze: Ocean Sands Hotel Enniscrone, Co Sligo
Ireland’s education and healthcare caterer
Gold: Gather and Gather - University College Dublin
Ireland’s five-star chef of the year, sponsored by BWG Food Service
Gold: Adare Manor - Chef Michael Tweedie, Co Limerick
Silver: Anantara, The Marker Dublin Hotel - Chef Gareth Mullins, Co Dublin
Bronze: Ballyfin Demesne - Chef Richard Picard Edwards, Co Laois
Ireland’s chef of the year, sponsored by BWG Food Service
Gold: The Blue Haven Kinsale - Chef Meeran Manzoor, Co Cork
Silver: Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa - Chef Daniel Willimont, Co Roscommon
Bronze: The Lake Hotel - Chef Noel Enright, Co Kerry
Ireland’s four-star resort, sponsored by Soundtolight
Gold: Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Co Cork
Silver: The Lake Hotel, Co Kerry
Bronze: Parknasilla Resort and Spa, Co Kerry
Ireland’s Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant
Gold: Ballynahinch Castle Hotel & Estate, Co Galway
Silver: Tankardstown House, Co Meath
Bronze: Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Co Wexford
Ireland’s five-star fine dining hotel restaurant
Gold: Mount Juliet Estate, Lady Helen, Co Kilkenny
Silver: Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
Bronze: Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, Co Kildare
Ireland’s five-star hotel, sponsored by SHR Group
Gold: The Merrion Hotel Dublin, Co Dublin
Silver: Hayfield Manor, Co Cork
Bronze: The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, Co Kerry
Ireland’s outstanding customer service
Gold: Headfort Arms Hotel. Co Meath
Ireland’s innovative supplier
Gold: Excel Recruitment
Connacht’s Ireland’s favourite place to stay
The Haridman, Co Galway
Leinster’s Ireland’s favourite place to stay
Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge, Co Wicklow
Munster’s Ireland’s favourite place to stay
Adare Manor, Co Limerick
Ulster’s Ireland’s favourite place to stay
Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan
Overall winner Ireland’s Favourite Place to Stay
Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan
Ireland’s Supreme Winner, sponsored by Virgin Media
Gold: The Europe Hotel & Resort, Co Kerry
#VirginGMA23