Local pub gets national recognition

With Sunday's All-Ireland final clash between Dublin and Kerry just around the corner, one local bar was celebrated as being one of the best in Ireland in which to catch a match at the 2019 Bar of the Year Awards.

The Castle Sports Bar and Lounge in Belturbet picked up 'Silver' when recognised among the winners at a black tie gala awards ceremony that took place in the Clayton Hotel on Dublin's Burlington Road last week.

The event was hosted by Newstalk’s Tom Dunne, and The Castle Sports Bar was nominated in no fewer than three categories- SKY sponsored 'Best Bar to Watch the Match'; Best Bar in Ulster; and The Castle Bar Manager Nicola Williams up for 'Bar Manager of the Year'.

“We were overwhelmed to be absolutely honest,” says Castle Bar owner Ray Slaughter, who travelled to the event with wife Diane, daughter Lauren, bar manager Nicola, and her husband Peter.

The award, he notes, is recognition of the “hard work” he and wife Diane have put into establishing the local haunt over the past five years, and before that for seven years when they held the reins of The Ducking Stool pub, also in the erneside town.

“We genuinely weren't expecting it, so it was wonderful to be able to come away from it with a Silver prize. We're so proud of the nomination Nicola received. Its been a great experience for everyone.

“Its great recognition for the bar, and great for the county and the town as well to see one of its own picked out from all the others that are around the country, especially some of those in the bigger places like Dublin. Cork, or Galway.”