From left: Pat Crotty, President, VFI, Susan and Fergus Murphy, Murph's Bistro, Derrygarra, Cavan Best Food Pub winner, North East region, Finbarr Clarke, Musgrave Marketplace

Murph's Bistro at the Derrygarra Inn finalist in Irish Pub Awards

Murph's Bistro at the Derrygarra Inn has took the top award for 'Best Food Pub' in the Northeast region. The Butlersbridge based eatery will now go forward as a finalist in the Irish Pub Awards 2017 with the overall winners to be announced at a gala awards ceremony on November 8.

Some of the finest pubs in the North East are celebrating after coming out on top at regional final, which took place in The Squealing Pig Restaurant and Bar, Monaghan, on Wednesday, October 4.

 
The winners in the North East are:
Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by Bank of Ireland Payment Acceptance: Warehouse Bar and Kitchen, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO: PJ O’Hare’s, Carlingford, Co Louth
Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Molson Coors: PJ O’Hare’s, Carlingford, Co Louth
Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers:  Russell’s Saloon, Dundalk, Co Louth
Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Heineken: Russell’s Saloon, Dundalk, Co Louth
Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo: Liam Smyth & Son, Ballybay, Co Monaghan
Best Food Pub sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace: Murph’s Bistro, Derrygarra Inn, Butlersbridge, Cavan
Pub Personality of the Year sponsored by Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard: Liam Smyth, Liam Smyth & Son, Ballybay, Co Monathan.

The Irish Pub Awards are jointly presented by Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and Licenced Vintners Association (LVA).  A series of seven regional events are took place around the country between September 18 and October 4 to announce 56 finalists through all categories.
The objective of the Awards programme is to recognise and reward excellence and innovation across various categories in the Irish Pub Industry. The awards were presented by President of VFI, Pat Crotty and the category sponsors
Speaking at the awards ceremony, president of VFI, Pat Crotty, said:“The pub is a central part of our hospitality and tourism sectors as well as being a meeting place for locals.  It is a major contributor to growth in our regional economies, so these awards will be an important vehicle to showcase the diversity that is available in the modern Irish pub and recognise the creativity and innovation that is already there”, he added.