A big congratulations to all of the Galway pubs and their staff who brought home special recognition from the Bar of the Year Awards this week! Read on to find out who won what when (and where!)...
The shining stars of Ireland’s famous pubs and bars were crowned on Monday 24th of August at The Square Bar of the Year Awards 2026, with a gala event hosted by Anton Savage in the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road, Dublin. Following a record-breaking year featuring over 1,000 national entries, the industry gathered to honour the extraordinary innovation, resilience, and craftsmanship defining Irish bars, hotels, craft breweries, and hospitality venues. Led by overall headline sponsor Square, the national competition recognised gold, silver, and bronze winners across more than 30 dynamic categories.
As usual, Galway shone brightly across all categories, highlighting the county’s commitment to hospitality, service, and top quality food and drink.
It was great news for one Galway man in particular as Joe O’Callaghan of Tom Sheridan’s was named Bar Manager of the Year for 2026! We’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Joe in the past and he thoroughly deserves this accolade.
Sonny Molloy’s won Gold for Whiskey Bar of the Year, much to the delight of the management and Galway whiskey-lovers alike!
The Kings Head also struck gold at the Bar of the Year Awards, taking home the Gold Award for Best Live Entertainment Bar and earning recognition as the best in Ireland in that category. The historic Galway venue also picked up Silver for City Bar of the Year, further cementing its reputation as one of the country’s leading bars and entertainment venues. With more than 800 years of history, The Kings Head is renowned for its live music and entertainment, with free live music seven nights a week alongside trad sessions, comedy and theatre.
McSwiggans Steak & Seafood Restaurant is celebrating another major accolade after being named the Silver winner in the Restaurant Bar of the Year category at the 2026 Bar of the Year Awards. The award recognises McSwiggans' continued commitment to quality food, drink and genuine Irish hospitality, with the Galway venue competing against some of the country’s leading bar and restaurant venues. This latest recognition adds to an impressive run of national awards for McSwiggan’s, which was named Ireland’s Best Gastropub in 2025 and Best Pub Restaurant by the Bar & Cocktail Awards. Located on Eyre Street in Woodquay, McSwiggans has been at the heart of Galway life for more than 40 years, combining its traditional public house with an award-winning Steak & Seafood Restaurant.
Just around the corner from McSwiggans, Blake’s Corner Bar were awarded Bronze in the Bar Food of the Year category, showcasing the high level of Galway’s bar food options. We have always been blown away by the food in both of these establishments, so you are spoilt for choice when dining and drinking out in Galway.
Meanwhile, Donnelly’s of Barna won Silver in the Staff Personality of the Year Category, which came as no surprise to us. From General Manager Marty Mckay, right through to every member of the organisation, they always go out of their way to accommodate your needs and offer a warm welcome while they’re at it.
The famous An Púcán pub just off Eyre Square continues to bring home awards year-after-year. This time, they won the Silver Tourist Bar of the Year Award, highlighting it as a brilliant first-stop for anybody visiting Galway who wants to soak up a bit of the culture, craic, and atmosphere of an Irish pub.
Discover the full list of winners from across Ireland HERE.
