Two Galway hotels and restaurant win best awards at Georgina Campbell ceremony
These included the coveted Newcomer of the Year award
Two Galway hotels and a restaurant have picked up top accolades at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards today.
The newly opened five star Hawthorn Hotel by Galway Bay in Oranmore scooped up Newcomer of the Year; Renvyle House Hotel and Resort in Connemara was given Georgina Campbell’s Memorable Experience Award while The Old Barracks in Athenry was crowned best brunch destination for 2026.
The awards, which were held in Dublin’s InterContinental Hotel on Tuesday, have been running for over 40 years and showcase the best in Irish hospitality across a large number of sectors.
Businesses cannot enter themselves, but rather are picked by a team of anonymous experts who carry out year-round visits acting as normal paying customers of the establishment.
Speaking at the awards, Georgina Campbell said: “In many places we visited, we could see how warm human interaction is being replaced by cold digital transactions.
“The very qualities that once defined good hospitality, such as knowing a guest's name, offering a cup of tea, or simply taking the time to have a conversation, are becoming less common.”
"The timeless art of hospitality has never been more valuable, or more urgently needed. Exceptional hospitality is about creating a connection and an experience that guests will remember and, importantly, tell others about.”
Here are the rest of the Connacht winners on the day:
Georgina Campbell 'Happy Place' Award 2026: An Port Mór Restaurant, Westport, Co Mayo; Georgina Campbell Pet-Friendly Destination of the Year 2026: Ocean Sands Hotel & Spa, Enniscrone, Co Sligo; 2026 Georgina Campbell Café Breakfast Award: Lyons Café & Bakeshop, Sligo, Co Sligo.