THE BEST Irish breakfasts on offer across Ireland have been revealed.
The annual Irish Breakfast Awards have become a staple of the Dublin social calendar in recent times.
Held in association with Fáilte Ireland, it’s a celebration of Ireland’s very best breakfasts - bacon, eggs, soda bread et al.
It’s also a chance to toast the island’s tastiest brunch venues and top Irish breakfast menus on offer in 2019.
The Brennan brothers' Park Hotel Kenmare took home the prestige award for Best Irish Breakfast on offer at a 5-star hotel.
Dublin's Fumbally Café won the award for Best Brunch, while Hook Lighthouse in Co Wexford won Best Irish Breakfast at a Visitor Attraction. Breac.
House in Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal won the award for Best Irish Breakfast Menu
Elsewhere, Roscommon's Castlemine Farm took home the award for best bacon with Clonarn Clover in Co. Meath bagging the award for best eggs.
The full list of award winners reads as follows:
Best Irish Breakfast: 5-star hotel
- Winner: Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford
- Highly Commended: The Merchant Hotel, Belfast
- Highly Commended: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin
- Highly Commended: The Heritage Killenard, Killenard, Co Laois
Best Irish Breakfast: 4-star hotel
- Winner: Marlfield House Hotel, Gorey, Co Wexford
- Highly Commended: Dunraven Arms, Adare, Co Limerick
- Highly Commended: Granville Hotel, Waterford
- Highly Commended: Bushmills Inn, Bushmills, Co Antrim
- Highly Commended:Sheedy’s Hotel, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare
Best Irish Breakfast: 3-star hotel
- Winner: Dingle Benners Hotel, Dingle, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: The Huntsman Inn, Galway
- Highly Commended: Aran Islands Hotel, Inis Mór, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Carrygerry Country House, Co Clare
- Highly Commended: Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, Kilkenny
Best Irish Breakfast: Country House
- Winner: Virginia Park Lodge, Virginia, Co Cavan
- Highly Commended: Rathsallagh House, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow
- Highly Commended: Rosleague Manor, Letterfrack, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Dunnanelly Country House, Co Down
- Highly Commended: Lodge at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo
Best Irish Breakfast: Guest House
- Winner: Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Co Westmeath
- Highly Commended: Castlewood House, Dingle, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Killarney Lodge, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Gleesons Townhouse, Roscommon
- Highly Commended: Blackwell House, Scarva, Co Armagh
Best Irish Breakfast: B&B
- Winner: Bantry House and Garden, Bantry, Co Cork
- Highly Commended: Shelburne Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry
- Highly Commended: Aldridge Lodge, Duncannon, Co Wexford
- Highly Commended: Ardawn House, Galway, Co Galway
- Highly Commended: Ghan House, Carlingford, Co Louth
Best Irish Breakfast: Visitor Attraction
- Winner: Hook Lighthouse, Hook Head, Co Wexford
- Highly Commended: Castle Café, Blackrock Castle, Cork
- Highly Commended: Lennons@VISUAL, Carlow, Co Carlow
- Highly Commended: The Kitchen, Galway City Museum, Galway
- Highly Commended: Avoca Café, Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co Dublin
"A recent Australian survey may have tried to debunk the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but our bodies – and our visitors - know better," food and hospitality expert Georgina Campbell said at the awards [via The Independent].
The Irish Breakfast Awards are now in their third year.
Chosen by incognito inspectors, according to Campbell the awards are about celebrating: "the people who strive to make the first meal of the day a particularly special experience for visitors and regulars alike.”
