IT’S no surprise that the culinary greats of West Cork were well represented at the recent 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards Munster Regional Final, which was held in the Strand Hotel in Limerick.
Now in its 17th year, the awards recognise the best of restaurants, cafés and hospitality in Munster across 18 categories.
Rob Krawczyk was celebrating after his Michelin-starred restaurant Chestnut in Ballydehob was crowned Best Restaurant in Cork, while Ahmet Dede of Dede at the Customs House in Baltimore won the Best Chef award.
There were celebrations in Crookhaven too after Dermot O’Sullivan and Linda Kennedy picked up ‘Best Gastro Pub’ in Cork amid strong competition.
Meanwhile, the team at the Lifeboat Inn in Courtmacsherry walked with the ‘Best Use of Social Media’, while Ciara O’Shea from Casey’s Bar and Restaurant in Clonakilty won the ‘Employee Excellence Award’.
The team at the Blue Haven Hotel in Kinsale were also recognised when Rare won the ‘Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant’, while their close neighbour Barbara Nealon of St Francis Provisions won the ‘Best Restaurant Manager’.
Owner and chef of The Flour Patch in Castlefreke outside Clonakilty, Anna O’Leary, was also celebrating after picking up the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award for her business. A honesty box operates at The Flour Patch where customers can sample her bread and scones as well as honey and vegetables from her parents’ land.
Meanwhile, Mike Parle and Darcie Mayland of the Lost Valley Dairy and Creamery in Inchigeelagh won the ‘Local Food Hero’ award.
Those who won in the Munster Regional Final will now go on to the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin on Monday May 18th.
