The Glyde Inn, based in Annagassan Co. Louth, has won the overall Irish Pub Awards National Irish Pub of the Year 2018. The Co. Louth pub was crowned national champion after winning the Best Food Pub, one of nine categories announced at last night’s awards.
The Awards were presented by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D., at the Gala Ceremony in the RDS Concert Hall on 21 November 2018. The winners were selected from over 500 applications in this joint national awards programme which is presented by the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA).
The Glyde Inn, based in Annagassan, Co. Louth, dates back to 1770 and the pub was bought by Paul and Anne O’Neill in 1978 who still operate it in an “authentic, untouched and unhurried” manner. It soon became a destination pub with a reputation for good food, drink, music and craic. In 2008, the O’Neills extended the premises to include the Linn Duachaill Restaurant and a Bed and Breakfast, overlooking Dundalk Bay and the Mountains of Mourne. While Paul and Anne look after the Bed and Breakfast, the restaurant and pub are now managed by their son Conor. Their award winning menu also includes seafood caught by fishermen in Dundalk Bay and Carlingford, some of which is flavoured from experience gained by Conor during food trips to continental Europe.
Each September, The Glyde Inn hosts The Taste of Togher Festival, as part of The Discover Boyne Valley Flavours events.
The Irish Pub Awards nine category winners are:
Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by BOI Payment Acceptance: The Two Sisters Pub, Terenure, Co. Dublin
Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO: Warehouse Bar & Kitchen, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers: Franciscan Well Brew Pub, Cork
Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Heineken: HI Way Bar & Restaurant, Limerick
Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Molson Coors: The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega, Cork
Pub Personality of the Year sponsored by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard: Brian Barrett – Geary’s Bar, Charleville, Co. Cork
Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo: Kenny’s Pub, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Best Newcomer sponsored by Hennessy: Sandyford House, Sandyford, Co Dublin
Best Food Pub The Glyde Inn, Annagassan, Co. Louth
At the Irish Pub Awards, Padraic McGann, VFI President said “The Glyde Inn and all tonight’s winners are leading examples of what the Irish Pub is about – a friendly destination to meet family and friends to enjoy good food, drinks, music and entertainment, where tourists can mix easily with locals to experience an Irish atmosphere at its best. We are delighted these Awards showcase what our publicans offer in terms of creativity, innovation and excellence. Publicans have adapted to changing consumer demands and are now offering excellent casual dining, contemporary beers and spirits, tourist attractions and overall entertainment to suit all types of customer”.
LVA Chairman Alan Campbell who also presented the awards on the night said, “We are very pleased with the success of our awards programme. The Irish Pub Awards has established itself as the definitive awards programme within the industry as it is set up to reward all aspects of the sector throughout the country. There is great value for pubs entering the awards in terms of excellent national and local media coverage along with the in-depth management training our 63 regional winners receive. We are delighted to have come together with the VFI on this great initiative”.
Partners to Irish Pub of the Year Awards are: Media partner, Irish Independent, Trade Media Partner, Drinks Industry Ireland, Wine Partner, Febvre Wine Company and Management Development Partner, Skillnet Ireland.
