March is in, awards season is getting underway and among the first out of the traps this year are the Leinster regional awards for the 2024 Irish Restaurant Awards.
Judging for Leinster entries took place over the past week with nomination letters doing the rounds on socials coming into the weekend with restaurants and cafés the length and breadth of the region heralding the categories they’re in the running for.
Some categories, like Food Truck of the Year, are national only meaning there won’t be a regional winner, instead, the overall winner will be announced in May with the All-Ireland awards. However, there’s plenty to look forward to on the regional front with the county-by-county reveal of winners of best restaurant, best chef, best casual dining, pub of the year, best wine experience and more.
While the All-Ireland awards are slated for the tail end of May, the four provincial rounds have to take place first, beginning with the Leinster awards on Wednesday 13 March at the five-star Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny.
2024 marks the 15th year of the Irish Restaurant Awards, the aim being to recognise excellence in the restaurant and wider hospitality industry. The regional awards are standing, reception-style. Doors for the Leinster awards at Lyrath open at 6.30pm for a drinks and canapés reception with the ceremony beginning at 7pm. Regional awards are smart-casual by dress code while the All-Ireland awards in May are strictly black tie – if you plan on attending.
Check the Irish Restaurant Awards website for more details and links for tickets.
For all the Kilkenny nominees this year in particular – the very best of luck to you; keep knocking it out of the park on the food front!
Schedule of awards
- Leinster Regional Awards – Wednesday 13th March, Lyrath Hotel, County Kilkenny
- Connaught Regional Awards – Wednesday 20th March, Knockranny House Hotel, County Mayo
- Munster Regional Awards – Wednesday 27th March, Great Southern Hotel Killarney, County Kerry
- Ulster Regional Awards – Wednesday 10th April, Armagh City Hotel, County Armagh
- All Ireland Final Irish Restaurant Awards – Monday 20th May, Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin
