Mayo’s Westport House scoops top tourism award

The recently sold Westport House in Co Mayo has won the Best Leisure Tourism Innovation award at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards.

The property was bought by Hotel Westport Ltd  last month in a deal expected to see €50 million invested in the 455-acre estate. It was sold by the Browne family, descendants of Grace O’Malley, who had run the estate since the early 1960s.

The award for Westport House was one of 14 announced on Friday night.

More than 550 people attended the Dublin ceremony organised by the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC), Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

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Other winners included the Bray Air Display (Best Festival), Vagabond Tours of Ireland (Best Adventure Experience), the Lough Derg Marketing Group (Best Local Authority Tourism Innovation) and Wicklow's River Valley Holiday Park (Most Innovative Place to Stay).

A special recognition award was presented to the organisers of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

"The range of awards recognises both innovation and excellence and rewards the best operators within Irish tourism," said Minister for Tourism Shane Ross, who presented the awards.

“It gives us the opportunity to come together to champion excellence, reward success and inspire others in the tourism industry to follow suit.”