Winners revealed!
Today, we reveal the winners of our Reader Travel Awards 2022. As things takes a turn for the better, we're celebrating not just the lights at the end of the tunnel, but the lights that have helped us through the tunnel — Ireland’s breathtakingly resilient tourism and hospitality industry. Overseas holidays will return in next year's awards, but this year, given the rollercoaster ride we’ve all had rediscovering the island, we felt a ‘Best of Ireland’ edition was apt. As always, our citations feature as many of your comments as possible. Because you are the real travel experts, after all.
Pól Ó Conghaile
Travel Editor
Judges
Pól Ó Conghaile
Pól Ó Conghaile is Travel Editor with The Irish Independent. He has been Travel Journalist of the Year in Ireland and the UK.
John Brennan
John Brennan runs The Park Hotel and The Lansdowne in Kenmare. His book 'My Name is Jhon' is out now.
Rachel Duggan
Rachel Dugan is Editor of the Irish Independent’s Weekend magazine.
Niall Tracey
Niall Tracey is Director of Marketing with Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority.
Francis Brennan
Francis Brennan runs The Park Hotel and The Lansdowne in Kenmare. He is co-host of RTE’s At Your Service.
Katy McGuinness
Katy McGuinness is a food writer and restaurant critic with the Irish Independent’s Weekend magazine.
The Prizes
MacNean Magic
Dinner for two at Neven Maguire’s famed restaurant, plus an overnight stay with breakfast. nevenmaguire.com
Winner: Jessica Redmond
Perfect pampering at Monart
A two-night spa break with breakfast and a gourmet evening meal, plus a 60-minute spa treatment, for two. monart.ie
Winner: Richard Lafferty, Co Derry
Cosy up at Carton House
A two-night stay at Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in Co Kildare, with dinner on one evening. cartonhouse.com
Winner: Rachel Morgan, Dublin
Blue Book bliss
Two nights’ B&B with dinner at the Blue Book’s gorgeous Castle Grove Country House in Co Donegal. castlegrove.com
Winner: Alison Irving, Co Antrim
The Lodge at Ashford
A two-night break at the Lodge at Ashford Castle, with breakfast included. thelodgeac.com
Winner: Tara Farrell, Co Offaly
Kick back at The Kingsley
A two-night B&B stay at The Kingsley Hotel in Cork, with dinner on one evening in The Springboard restaurant. thekingsley.ie
Winner: Mark Quinn, Co Kildare
Fab Farnham
A two-night B&B stay for two in a stylish room, with one dinner In Maxwell’s Grill at Farnham Estate, Co Cavan. farnhamestate.ie
Winner: Rachael Boyd, Co Kildare
Só special
A two-night staycation in your choice of any of the six Só hotels in Ireland, including B&B, a welcome cocktail and three-course dinner on one evening. sohotels.ie
Winner: Mairead Collis, Co Sligo
The details
How does it work?
Nominations are closed for our Reader Travel Awards 2022. While they were open, we asked readers to send nominations in each category, together with any comments on their picks, via an online entry form. Entries were free and open to all readers in Ireland and overseas. Entrants were also included in a draw to win one of eight great travel prizes.
What happened next?
After entries closed, the top nominees were tallied and our our expert judging panel adjudicated on our readers’ shortlist — choosing the final winners and runners-up from your favourites. The final lists of winners and runners-up is being published here on Independent.ie and in Weekend magazine on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
When will the next awards take place?
Nominations for the Reader Travel Awards 2023 will open later this year. Stay tuned!
Prize Providers
