Pictured at the Grand Central Bar, O’Connell Street, Donall O’Keeffe, CEO, LVA; Padraig Cribben, CEO VFI and John Cassidy, Commercial Director, Edward Dillon & Co Ltd.

This year over 1,500 applications were made to the Irish Pub Awards which are now in their third year. This figure has trebled since the introduction of the awards which proves that this programme is being recognised by publicans’ right throughout the country as a valuable way to promote their business.

The judging process will be underway over the Summer with shortlisted pubs receiving anonymous visits during July and August and the Regional winners will be announced mid -September. In addition to a publicity campaign and profile in the Irish Independent the regional winners also get a place on the awards management training programme in October to help them further develop their business.

The category winners and the national Irish Pub of the Year will be announced on November 20^th in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin.