Neven Maguire.

Macneans picks up four food gongs in good night for cavan restaurants

The Ulster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards, in association with The Irish Times, took place in Belfast on Easter Sunday with MacNean's, The Derragarra Inn, Crover House and Cabra Castle all picking up gongs.

Over 500 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the awards, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Ulster, turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said: “The Irish Restaurant Awards celebrate their seventh year this year and have become the Island’s biggest food awards. The credibility that these awards have is reflected in the amount of nominations they received this year- over 30,000 votes were cast across nine categories, showing that these are the awards that everyone wants to win.

“The Irish restaurant scene is internationally recognised for its high calibre of restaurateurs and chefs. These awards celebrate the people that make the restaurant sector the dynamic and exciting industry it is. They are the people who provide 72,000 jobs to our economy and generate revenue in excess of €2 billion. We’re recognising the talent, hard work and commitment that everyone here gives to the food industry. Tonight, everyone is a winner.”

Having won the Best Newcomer and Best Chef Award in 2013, Best Restaurant, Best Wine Experience and Best Chef in 2014, OX, once again, took home the award for Best Restaurant and Best Wine Experience in Antrim.

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Best Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Hotel Restaurant, Best Casual Dining, Best Gastro Pub, Best Customer Service, Best Wine Experience, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Kids Size Me and Local Food Hero.

All County winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Dublin on Monday, May 25, 2015.

 The Cavan winners are as follows;

 Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Dalcassian & Wakefield Wines

 MacNean House and Restaurant

 Best Chef – Sponsored by La Rousse Foods

 Neven Maguire, MacNean House and Restaurant

 Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Bunzl McLaughlin

 Murph’s Bistro at Derragarra Inn

 Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Total Produce

 Ashcourt at Crover House Hotel

 Best Hotel Restaurant

 The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle Hotel

 Best Customer Service- Sponsored by TheTaste.ie

 MacNean House & Restaurant

 Best Wine Experience - Sponsored by Classic Drinks & Massottina

 MacNean House & Restaurant

 Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Elavon

 Ashcourt at Crover House Hotel