Latest news with #HappyOut
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Best café, pub and more revealed at Irish Restaurant Awards
The All-Ireland Final of the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards took place at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, where over 1,000 of the country's top hospitality professionals gathered to celebrate the finest establishments in Irish food and drink. The top honours on the night went to Dede at the Customs House, Baltimore, who were named Best Restaurant, while John Kelly of the Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate was awarded Best Chef in Ireland. Renowned Chef Neven Maguire was also honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award recognising his contribution to Irish food and hospitality. Now in its 16th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received a record-breaking 165,000 public nominations for restaurants, cafés and venues across the country. Here is the list of this year's winners: Best Restaurant - Sponsored by San Miguel Leinster: Thyme Restaurant Connaught: Lignum Ulster: MacNean House & Restaurant Dublin: Chapter One Munster: Dede at the Customs House, Baltimore All Ireland: Dede at the Customs House, Baltimore Best Chef - Sponsored by BWG Food Service Ulster: Ciaran Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box Munster: Brian Murray, The Glass Curtain Dublin: Visham Sumputh, Etto Connaught: Yvonne Kathrein, Poacher Restaurant Leinster: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate All Ireland: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate Best Restaurant Manager - Sponsored by Elavon Connaught: Shirley Stirzaker, Dining Room Leinster: William Wong, Saba Munster: Sophie McCauley, Homestead Cottage Ulster: Laura Connolly, The Oak Room Restaurant Dublin: Cian Lynch, Uno Mas All Ireland: Cian Lynch, Uno Mas Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - Sponsored by Frylite Ulster: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate Leinster: The Sea Rooms at Kelly's Resort Munster: Landline at Park Hotel Kenmare Dublin: The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne Connaught: George V at Ashford Castle All Ireland: George V at Ashford Castle Best Use of Social Media – Sponsored by GRID Finance Leinster: Little Acorn Cafe Dublin: Kicky's Connaught: Hooked Ulster: Sonder Munster: Hotel Woodstock All Ireland: Hotel Woodstock Employee Excellence Award - Sponsored by Peninsula Leinster: Jackie Cullen, Mary Barry's Bar Connaught: Emma Cavanagh, Nook Cafe and Restaurant Munster: Geraldine Ward, Everett's Restaurant Ulster: Liam McKenna, Armagh City Hotel Dublin: Charlie O'Reilly, Happy Out x Together Academy All Ireland: Charlie O'Reilly, Happy Out x Together Academy Best Casual Dining - Sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace Munster: Momo Restaurant Ulster: Frae Leinster: The Valley Inn Connaught: Guys Seafood Bar Dublin: Crudo All Ireland: Crudo Gastro Pub - Sponsored by Paynt Ulster: Murph's Gastro Pub Dublin: HERA Leinster: The Glyde Inn Munster: J. M. Reidy's Connaught: McSwiggans All Ireland: McSwiggans Best Café - Sponsored by Lavazza Dublin: Two Boys Brew Munster: Seagull Bakery Connaught: POTA Ulster: Ursa Minor Leinster: Strandfield All Ireland: Strandfield Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine - Sponsored by FBD Insurance Connaught: The Lavender Restaurant Dublin: Volpe Nera Munster: Saint Francis Provisions Leinster: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro Ulster: The Olde Post Inn All Ireland: The Olde Post Inn Best Newcomer - Sponsored by Square Munster: Baba'de Connaught: Oifig An Fish Ulster: No. 9 Market Square Dublin: Forêt Leinster: Bearú All Ireland: Bearú Pub of the Year - Sponsored by istil.38 Dublin: Neary's Ulster: The Reel Inn Connaught: Matt Molloy's Munster: An Siopa Dubh Leinster: Sean's Bar All Ireland: Sean's Bar Best Wine Experience - Sponsored by Bibendum Ulster: OX Leinster: Ballyfin Demesne Munster: UNioN Wine Bar & Kitchen Connaught: Daróg Wine Bar Dublin: Bar Pez All Ireland: Bar Pez Best Customer Service - Sponsored by provided by Dolmen Leinster: Monart Connaught: Arno's Bistrot Ulster: Noble Dublin: Roly's Bistro Munster: Restaurant Chestnut All Ireland: Restaurant Chestnut Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by National Chef de Partie Apprenticeship & National Sous Chef Apprenticeship Programmes Connaught: Mama Rich Woodquay Ulster: Chilli Lounge Leinster: Tābú Munster: Tango Street Food Dublin: Rasam Restaurant All Ireland: Rasam Restaurant Best Sustainable Practices - Sponsored by Familia Torres & the Findlater Group Dublin: Glas Restaurant Munster: Ballygarry Estate Hotel Leinster: Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery Connaught: Honestly Farm Kitchen Ulster: Lir All Ireland: Lir Innovator of the Year - Sponsored by Diageo Ulster: Foam Connaught: Ugly D's Pizza Leinster: Fiona Egan, Cloughan Farm & Cookery School Munster: Trawler Boyz Ballycotton Dublin: Bar 1661 All Ireland: Bar 1661 Local Food Hero - Sponsored by Sugar Snap Leinster: Tom and Laura Sinnott, Wexford Home Preserves Munster: Kasha Connolly, Hazel Mountain Chocolate Connaught: The Calvey Family, Calveys Achill Mountain Lamb Dublin: Jess Kelly, The Village Butcher Ulster: Jonny Cuddy, Ispini Charcuterie All Ireland: Jonny Cuddy, Ispini Charcuterie Best Cocktail Experience – Sponsored by Monin All Ireland: Darren Geraghty, Hawksmoor Food Truck of the Year – Sponsored by provided by Dolmen All Ireland: Julia's Lobster Truck Best Cookery School – Avonmore All Ireland: Dingle Cookery School Best Learning and Development - Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet All Ireland: O'Dwyers
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘It's a stunning setting for any cafe, but this one has extra-special credentials'
There is a palpable sense of purpose and job satisfaction among the young adults with Down syndrome who work in the Happy Out cafe in Dún Laoghaire . We are chatting on the outdoor terrace of the cafe in the refurbished Dún Laoghaire Baths building overlooking the harbour. It's a stunning setting for any cafe, but this one has extra-special credentials because it may be the first commercial cafe in Ireland to employ adults with Down syndrome in partnership with a social enterprise. 'I don't have anyone in my family with Down syndrome, but this opportunity fell into my lap and I thought it would be very nice to do,' says Brian Hanratty, who owns Happy Out cafes on Bull Island and in Donnybrook as well as Dún Laoghaire. Hanratty first came in contact with the Together Academy social enterprise – which trains and finds work for adults with Down syndrome – at its base in the Wanderers Football Club a few years ago. 'I helped them set up their coffee shop in the bar at Wanderers and trained them how to make coffee,' Hanratty explains. READ MORE The Together Academy was cofounded by Therese Coveney, whose 14-year-old daughter April gave her the impetus to set up the social enterprise. 'I can feel change in the Dún Laoghaire/Blackrock area since the Happy Out cafe opened [in July 2023]. Most adults with Down syndrome rely on day services when they turn 21, but we wanted robust, industry-recognised training and a job to change the statistic that only 10 per cent of adults with Down syndrome work,' says Coveney. 'After Covid, most of us understood what it was like to have meaningless, aimless days with no purpose. We are giving these young adults opportunities to be more independent, to be a valuable part of their community and to be paid employees.' Happy Out: Kim Williams, Brian Hanratty, Ciara Donohoe, Mark Claffey, Tara Gaw, Charlie O'Reilly, Lia Gogarty, Paula Doherty and Sam Murphy. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Currently, there are 14 adults with Down syndrome on the roster at Happy Out in Dún Laoghaire. Each person does a three-hour shift – partly because they can't work more than about 10 hours a week while keeping their disability allowance, but also because three hours is long enough for most of the employees. [ Down syndrome and employment: 'It shouldn't be amazing anymore, it should just be the norm' Opens in new window ] 'In the beginning we found it hard to get enough guys to work with us but not now. They do everything from serving on the till, making and serving coffee and dealing with orders,' says Hanratty. The cafe has a card-only payment system which reduces potential for errors. Hanratty says the younger generation of customers love seeing adults with Down syndrome working in the cafe, but it has taken some older people a bit of time to get their heads around it. Ciara Donohoe and Sam Murphy in Happy Out, Dún Laoghaire. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw 'Some 'old school' people don't expect things to be done right and they will look to another staff member to make sure it's really happening. But when they see that the staff member with Down syndrome has done the job well, they are very positive,' says Hanratty. The staff working regular eight-hour shifts also have to be a bit more flexible. 'When we hire staff, we have to make sure that they know what they are taking on and be willing to help out in certain scenarios, and be more patient at times. They need to know that it's different to a regular cafe.' Hanratty says the key to everything is to serve good coffee. 'If the coffee isn't good, people will come once and won't come back, even if they think it's a nice idea.' Ciara Donohoe from Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow works on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at Happy Out. 'It's really good and not too hard. It's very challenging making the drinks and I'm still learning how to be a barista,' she says. [ Down syndrome: 'Sarah regards herself as a businesswoman... she's certainly breaking the stereotype' Opens in new window ] Charlie O'Reilly from Sandycove works on Mondays and Fridays: 'I love chatting with customers and colleagues when I'm working at Happy Out. It's a really good business.' Kim Williams from Shankill has a reputation for being good at latte art. 'I also do the tills and take orders,' she says, admitting that walking through the cafe when it's really busy can be a bit difficult. Lia Gogarty, Mark Claffey and Kim Williams. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Cafe manager Matthew Roche says some of the staff with Down syndrome can get a bit flustered and emotional if it's very busy. 'We just take some time out in the foyer or outside if this happens – especially on busy days or at the weekends,' he explains. Building up people's confidence to work front and centre in a public space has taken time, says Coveney. 'When we first started training people, there was a lot of heads down, withdrawn people with their headphones on, but they have grown and flourished,' she says. 'Working in a cafe won't suit everyone, but there was something there waiting to be nurtured and educated. 'It is about having higher expectations of these young adults but it would be naive to let them fly on their own. They need the supports around them.' Paula Doherty is the Pathways to Employment lead with the Together Academy. Her job involves finding work placements and paid employment for students who have completed the two-year culinary and hospitality programme that Together Academy runs at the Wanderers Football Club. [ Man with Down syndrome who wants to live independently brings council to court over housing assessment Opens in new window ] 'It's about matching the person with the job and carving out a role for them. This can involve two or three tasks over two mornings a week from, say, 10am-1pm,' she says. 'Some businesses are nervous about taking someone on, but once they meet with us and see the supports they get, it eases their minds.' The Together Academy provides backup support for the workers, meeting them before and after their job, and checking in every four to six weeks with three-, six- and 12-monthly reviews. They also do inclusive training with staff and set up a buddy system in the workplace so the person with Down syndrome has one key worker to turn to if they have any concerns. This summer the Together Academy will open a second, larger training centre in SMBC Aviation Capital on Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin. 'This will be about providing more programmes for young adults with Down syndrome. It's about elevating people's expectations whilst giving people a lot of support,' says Coveney. She adds that all of the staff at Happy Out still live with their families and it has taken a lot of forbearance on their parts. 'Many travel to work independently on public transport. We know that we are still working with vulnerable young adults. We take our role very responsibly.'
