Donegal publicans were celebrating after four of their pubs took home awards last night(11th October 2018) as the Irish Pub Awards North East region winners were announced in The Squealing Pig, The Diamond, Monaghan Town. All nine winners will now go forward to the final of the National Pub Awards at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin 4 on Wednesday 21st November when the National Category Winners and the overall Irish Pub of the Year will be announced.

The winners in the North East Region are:

Glencar Inn, Glencar SC, Circular Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by Bank of Ireland Payment Acceptance

The Warehouse Bar & Kitchen, Upper Main Street, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO

The Singing Pub, Atlantic Drive, Downings, Co Donegal – Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Molson Coors

The Neptune, Main Street, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth – Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers

PJ O’Hare’s, The Anchor Bar, Carlingford, Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth – Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Heineken

Barlow’s Railway Tavern, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth – Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo

Sister Sara’s, Port Road; Gortlea, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – Best Newcomer sponsored by Hennessy

The Glyde Inn, Main Street, Annagassan, Castlebellingham, Co Louth – Best Food sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace

Bryan McKiernan, The Keepers Arms, Bridge Street, Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan – Pub Personality of the Year sponsored by Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard

The Irish Pub Awards are jointly presented by the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and the Licenced Vintners Association of Ireland (LVA).  A series of seven regional events take place around Ireland between 11^th September and 11^th October to announce 63 finalists throughout seven regions.