The 35th Virgin Media Business Gold Medal Awards took place in Galway on Monday night with some Kilkenny hopefuls coming home with top honours.
Recognised as the leading independent awards programme for the Irish hospitality sector, the Gold Medal Awards recognise and reward excellence in hospitality and catering operations across Ireland.
Among the gold winners on the night were Newpark Hotel Kilkenny who took the top prize for Ireland’s Family Friendly Hotel, seeing off competition from Clonakilty Park Hotel (silver) and Amber Springs in Gorey (Bronze).
The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Estate, Thomastown, took gold for Ireland’s Five Star Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant ahead of Ballyfin Demesne and Carton House. It’s the second year running for both the Lady Helen and Newpark to take gold in their respective categories.
While the Pembroke Hotel on Patrick Street in the city were pipped to the gold for Ireland’s Breakfast Experience, taking silver), they walked away with gold for Ireland’s Boutique Hotel of the Year, ahead of Stauntons on the Green (Dublin) and The Blue Haven (Kinsale). Lyrath Estate on the old Dublin Road picked up silver for Ireland’s Business & Conference Hotel, wedged between the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (Dublin, Bronze) and The Johnstown Estate (Meath, Gold)
Other big winners on the night included Adare Manor in Co. Limerick who took home the Gold Award for Ireland’s Five Star Resort, with Castle Leslie Estate (Monaghan) named Ireland’s Favourite Place to Stay following a public vote.
Hayfield Manor was crowned overall Supreme Champion.
Check the full list of winners below. All photos: Paul Sherwood / Paul Sherwood Photography.
2024 Virgin Media Business Gold Medal Awards Winners
Supreme Winner
- Gold – Hayfield Manor
Ireland’s Lifetime Achievement
- Gold – Theresa Allen
Ireland’s Favourite Place To Stay
- Overall Winner – Castle Leslie
- Connacht – Ashford Castle
- Leinster – Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge
- Munster – The Rose Hotel
- Ulster – Castle Leslie
Ireland’s Family Friendly Hotel
- Gold – Newpark Hotel Kilkenny
- Silver – Clonakilty Park Hotel
- Bronze – Amber Springs Hotel
Ireland’s Best Family Run Hotel Group
- Gold – Romantic Castles Of Ireland
Ireland’s Sustainability / Leading Green Hotel
- Gold – Armada Hotel
- Silver – Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa
- Bronze – Dromoland Castle Hotel
Ireland’s Five Star Hotel
- Gold – Hayfield Manor
- Silver – The Merrion Hotel Dublin
- Bronze – Cashel Palace Hotel
Ireland’s Afternoon Tea Hotel
- Gold – The Merrion Hotel Dublin
- Silver – Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel
- Bronze – Marlfield House Hotel
Ireland’s Chef of the Year
- Gold – The Lake Hotel, Noel Enright
- Silver – Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Danni Barry
- Bronze – The Mustard Seed Country House and Restaurant, Angel Pirev
Ireland’s Five Star Chef of the Year
- Gold – Park Hotel Kenmare, James O’Sullivan
- Silver – Ashford Castle, Liam Finnegan
- Bronze – Sheen Falls Lodge, Mark Treacy
Ireland’s Best Hotel Group
- Gold – MHL Hotel Group
Ireland’s Business & Conference Hotel
- Gold – The Johnstown Estate
- Silver – Lyrath Estate
- Bronze – Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Dublin
Ireland’s Four Star Hotel
- Gold – Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa
- Silver – Armada Hotel
- Bronze – Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa
Ireland’s Wine Experience
- Gold – Ashford Castle
- Silver – Cashel Palace Hotel
- Bronze – Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Ireland’s Four Star Resort
- Gold – Renvyle House Hotel and Resort
- Silver – Harvey’s Point
- Bronze – Galgorm
Ireland’s Guest Experience
- Gold – Killashee Hotel
- Silver – Harvey’s Point
- Bronze – The Montenotte
Ireland’s Five Star Resort
- Gold – Adare Manor
- Silver – Dromoland Castle Hotel
- Bronze – Sheen Falls Lodge
Ireland’s Three Star Hotel
- Gold – Hotel Isaacs Cork
- Silver – Clew Bay Hotel
- Bronze – Great National South Court Hotel
Ireland’s Hotel Casual Dining Experience
- Gold – Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa
- Silver – Great Southern Killarney
- Bronze – Armada Hotel
Ireland’s Five Star Hotel Casual Dining Experience
- Gold – The g Hotel & Spa
- Silver – Hayfield Manor
- Bronze – Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Ireland
Ireland’s Innovative Supplier
- Gold – Excel Recruitment
Ireland’s City Hotel
- Gold – The Mayson Hotel
- Silver – The Dean Cork
- Bronze – The Hardiman
Ireland’s Country House & Guest House Experience
- Gold – Ard na Sidhe Country House Hotel
- Silver – Dunbrody Country House
- Bronze – Marlfield House Hotel
Ireland’s Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant
- Gold – The Blue Haven Hotel
- Silver – Tankardstown House, Brabazon Restaurant
- Bronze – Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa
Ireland’s Five Star Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant
- Gold – Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Estate
- Silver – Ballyfin Demesne
- Bronze – Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel
Ireland’s Five Star Hotel Spa Experience
- Gold – Dromoland Castle Hotel
- Silver – Ashford Castle
- Bronze – ESPA at The Europe Hotel & Resort
Ireland’s Four Star Hotel Spa Experience
- Gold – Galgorm
- Silver – The Johnstown Estate
- Bronze – Ice House Hotel
Ireland’s Front of House Team/Team Member
- Gold – The Europe Hotel & Resort
- Silver – Sligo Park Hotel & Leisure Club
- Bronze – The Mustard Seed Country House and Restaurant
Ireland’s Breakfast Experience
- Gold – Castlewood House Dingle
- Silver – Pembroke Kilkenny Hotel
- Bronze – Celtic Ross Hotel
Ireland’s Menu Provenance Award
- Gold – Ballyfin Demesne
- Silver – Ballymaloe House Hotel
- Bronze – Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa
Ireland’s Grand Wedding Hotel
- Gold – Cork’s Vienna Woods Hotel
- Silver – Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate
- Bronze – Mulranny Park Hotel
Ireland’s Small Wedding Hotel
- Gold – Luttrellstown Castle Resort
- Silver – The Station House Hotel, Kilmessan, Co. Meath
- Bronze – Lough Rynn Castle
Ireland’s Castle & Heritage Wedding Excellence
- Gold – Cashel Palace Hotel
- Silver – Castle Leslie Estate
- Bronze – Markree Castle
Ireland’s Outstanding Customer Service Award
- Gold – The Kingsley Hotel
Tourist Experience of the Year
- Gold – Mulranny Park Hotel
- Silver – The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney
- Bronze – Chancery Hotel Dublin
Ireland’s Boutique Hotel of the Year
- Gold – Pembroke Kilkenny Hotel
- Silver – Stauntons on the Green
- Bronze – The Blue Haven Hotel
Ireland’s Five Star Guest Experience
- Gold – Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate
- Silver – The Merrion Hotel Dublin
- Bronze – The Killarney Park
