Daniel and Majella O’Donnell presented the B&B of the Year 2018 Award to Mrs. Mary McKenna, of Gallow’s View B&B in Bunratty, Co Clare, at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin earlier today.
Mrs McKenna said she was delighted to receive the award and thanked her guests for giving her such high praise in their reviews. The annual B&B of the Year Award is based solely on guest reviews and is run by B&B Ireland and sponsored by Waterford Crystal.
Gallow’s View was selected from 10 finalists from Counties Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Roscommon and Westmeath. The final winner was selected by an independent expert from Customer Service Excellence Ireland
B&B of the Year Award Presentation
Daniel and Majella presented Mary McKenna with a Waterford Crystal Vase engraved with the title of ‘2018 B&B of the Year’. “Myself and Majella are delighted to be presenting the awards to the finalists of B&B of the year,” said Daniel O’Donnell. “We have met many wonderful B&B owners while filming our B&B road trip series around Ireland, and we are very aware and proud of the great work they do for Irish tourism.”
“Assessment for the award was based on reviews received in 2017 from guests who booked and stayed through B&B Ireland,” says Helena Healy, chief executive of B&B Ireland.
The comments from these reviews are high praise indeed. Here’s what one guest had to say about the winning B&B, Gallow’s View: “We just loved our hostess. Mary treated us with such kindness and ensured all our needs were met and therefore made our stay feel like home. She prepared us a breakfast of champions. The B&B was beautiful and the rooms very clean and tasteful.”
One guest described Mary as “an exceptional host. We were welcomed with tea and cakes after a long day of driving – and breakfast the next morning was wonderful. ” Another reviewer commented: “We talked like old friends over tea and she guided us to the best eating places in town.”
What B&B of the Year Means
Helena Healy of B&B Ireland says the reviews show that “for B&B Ireland guests, it’s not just about good rooms and great home-cooked breakfasts. It’s also about the welcome, the atmosphere and the local knowledge.”
B&B Ireland is the only national body representing the B&B sector on the island of Ireland. Our visitor numbers increased by 18% in 2017, with revenue rising 19% to over €9m. Chief Executive Helena Healy said the awards are run to “acknowledge the fantastic work B&Bs are delivering to guests all around the country.”
“B&B’s are usually run by just one or two people, yet they make a huge contribution to their local economies, particularly by attracting overseas visitors into rural areas. Our awards are based on measuring the visitors experience. The reviews these B&Bs have received is testament to the exceptional service and experience they are delivering to their guests’.”
For more information about B&B Ireland go to http://www.bandbireland.com/ or to enquire about opening up a B&B or joining B&B Ireland click here: or go to http://www.bandbireland.com/join
B&B of the Year Finalists:
ARDMOR COUNTRY HOUSE: Bartley & Vera Feeney, Spiddal (An Spideal,) Co.Galway
GALLOW’S VIEW: Mrs Mary McKenna, Bunratty, Bunratty East Co.Clare
EMOHRUO B&B: Margaret Carey Lough, North Doolin, Co.Clare
IMEALL NA MARA: Philomena & Michael Brosnan, Dingle, Co.Kerry
TAOBH COILLE: Agnes O’Sullivan, Cahirciveen, Co.Kerry
ARDFIELD FARMHOUSE: Bernadette Freyne, Ballinhassig, Co.Cork
OLDTOWN FARMHOUSE: Mary Fitzgerald, Stoneyford, Thomastown Co.Kilkenny
AARONBEG: Mrs Maureen Downes, Maynooth, Co.Kildare
ROSDARRIG HOUSE: Brenda McCormack Boyle, Co.Roscommon
LOUGH OWEL LODGE: Martin & Aideen Ginnell, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath
About B&B Ireland and the B&B sector:
- B&B Ireland is the only national body representing the B&B sector on the island of Ireland
- Overseas visitors rose 18% in 2017
- Booking numbers increased by 12% in 2017
- Revenue rose 18% in 2017 to over €11m
- We offer a unique experience to overseas visitors, who make up over 90% of our customers
- We attract those seeking real Irish home experience to Ireland, which benefits national and regional economies
- B&B Ireland visitors stay longer, compared to other booking engines/agencies
- B&B Ireland offers access to global trade
- We have lower than average cancellation rates e.g. B&B Ire = 4%
Media Enquiries to Trish Hegarty, Inis Communications: trish@iniscommunications.com or call 086 1740057