A hostelry in Birr, Co Offaly, has won the 1999 Black & White pub of the year award, presented by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, in Dublin, yesterday. The Thatch, Crinkle, Birr, owned by Mr Des Connole, has won the Offaly title eight times - this year being the fourth win in a row. It also took the best Leinster pub title.
Bakers Corner, Kill O' the Grange, won the best Dublin City & County pub award. The Cosy Thatch, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, won the Munster pub title; the Strand House Bar, Strandhill, Co Sligo, the Connacht pub award, and the Smuggler's Creek Inn, Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal, the Ulster pub title. Best newcomer was won by Grace's pub, Naas, Co Kildare.
The Playwright Inn, Blackrock, won the best Dublin superpub and overall superpub titles. Bridge House, Tullamore, took the provincial superpub award. The Dubliner, Jury's Ballsbridge, took the titles for best Dublin hotel bar and overall hotel bar; the Tullamore Court Hotel won the Leinster hotel bar title.
Toddy's Bar, Limerick Ryan Hotel, took the best Munster hotel award, while Sin Sceal Eile in the Connemara Coast Hotel, Furbo, Co Galway, was best in Connacht.