Connemara’s Lough Inagh Lodge has been awarded one of the Irish hospitality industry’s highest honours.
The Recess country house, owned by the O’Connor family, beat off stiff competition from peers in the country and townhouses sector to win the coveted gold award at the 23rd annual Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards.
A hit with hill walkers, fly-fishing aficionados, and those seeking a relaxing Irish break, Lough Inagh offers a haven of tranquillity to escape the rat race and has been described as a “leading ambassador for Irish tourism” by members of the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards jury.
“Nothing is too much trouble for the team at Lough Inagh who ensure guests’ every whim is catered for during their stay,” said Sarah Grennan, editor of Hotel & Catering Review and chair of the Gold Medal Awards jury. “Our judges were blown away by the standard of service on offer in this gorgeous country house and charmed by the relaxing ambience, great food, and breathtaking views.”
Organised by the Hotel & Catering Review, the leading magazine for the Irish hospitality industry, the Gold Medal Awards are recognised as the industry's most rigorous and competitive independent awards programme. Now in their 23rd year, the Gold Medal Awards are judged by a panel of experienced independent industry practitioners who travelled thousands of kilometres across the island of Ireland over a period of four months this year to assess hundreds of hotel, restaurant and catering entrants in the 2011 awards.
A total of 15 category awards were presented at this year's gala ceremony in Dublin, which was attended by more than 480 leading hoteliers, restaurateurs and caterers from across the country. Finalists in the award for country houses and guesthouses included fellow Connemara hotel Ballynahinch Castle; Ballyseedy Castle, Tralee, Co Kerry; Ballyvolane House, Fermoy, Co Cork; Mount Falcon Country House Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo; Rathsallagh House, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow; Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath; and Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Co Westmeath.
This year’s supreme winner, Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork, triumphed after scooping the award in the Five Star Hotels category.
