Europe and Galgorm spas win at Gold Medal Awards 

The Europe Hotel & Resort in Killarney, Co Kerry has won the award for Ireland's Five-Star Hotel Spa Experience at the the Hotel & Catering Gold Medal Awards.

Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in Antrim won the prize for Ireland's Four-Star Hotel Spa Experience.

Castlemartyr Resort in Co Cork took the silver prize in the Five-Star Hotel Spa Experience category, while Fota Island Resort, also in Co Cork, took the bronze.

In the Four-Star Hotel Spa Experience category, Seafield Hotel & Spa Resort in Co Wexford was awarded silver while The Kingsley in Cork city was awarded bronze.

Now in its 32nd year, the event took place in the Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny. The annual awards celebrate the best in Irish hospitality. Each shortlisted establishment is blind site-inspected by the judging panel, which is made up of industry experts from a range of hospitality sectors. They compile scores and meet together to decide on finalists, and then winners in each category. With 168 finalists up for honours, the judges selected 56 properties for recognition.

“The last number of years are unprecedented in the hospitality sector and extraordinary efforts have been made in the industry to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic,” said Donagh Davern, member of the judging panel.

“As the world thankfully emerges from this time, Gold Medal inspectors were delighted to be back on the road, visiting some wonderful properties, where the key is their exceptional people. People have always been at the heart of our industry and will continue to distinguish properties from their competitors.”