A traditional Irish pub “in the middle of nowhere” was named the best gastro pub in Ireland - but what was it that impressed the critics so much?
The Rusty Mackerel, in south west Donegal, won the coveted title at the Irish Restaurant Awards on Monday.
The pub is located right next to the Slieve Liag Cliffs, one of the top tourist attractions in the county, and has built a reputation for itself based on its great seafood as well as live music and open fires.
Manager Dymphna Kennedy said that based on its rural location the reputation of the pub has spread by “word of mouth”.
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“We’re a small, typical Irish bar and restaurant and we have accommodation as well,” said Dymphna. “We have to fight for our corner because we are literally in the middle of nowhere.
“We have to work hard for what we do and thank god we’re recognised for it.
“We’re not relying on the locals or the everyday trade, we’re relying on passing trade and we’re relying on them for their word of mouth to spread it to their friends that we are here and we are good.”
Dymphna said the warm, friendly atmosphere inside The Rusty Mackerel is one of the keys to their success - a place where an impromptu sing-song is greatly encouraged.
“We have music on as well in the pub. It’s just so friendly and homely," she said. "We have a saying here, ‘You come in a stranger and you leave as friends’ and that is true.
“It’s all different nationalities coming to visit Slieve Liag and they come in at the bar and sit at the open fire. There are instruments on the wall and someone might be able to play an instrument and they start singing. Everyday is different.”
Dymphna said that seafood is always the favourite on the menu. The top three sellers in the pub are the creamy seafood chowder - served with homemade bread for €10, the fish and chips - golden fried in beer batter and served with mushy peas and tartare sauce for €18, as well as their fish platter.
“We have a good name and great reputation for food. We have a great chef in there, Marie Cunningham, a local woman,” said Dymphna.
“Everyone always thinks it’s a man and says ‘tell him he did a great job, tell him that was lovely’ and I say, ‘no it’s a she’.”
She said there has been a lot of “screaming and roaring” with excitement the last couple of days following the big win and said it is well-deserved for their staff.
“We could not believe it. We went up [to the awards] with no expectations and we were delighted to win the gastro pub for Donegal," she said.
“We won that three years ago, before the last lockdown in 2019. When we won it again this year we were delighted, not thinking we would get any further.
“You can imagine our reaction when we were called out for Ulster and then when we were called out for all Ireland it was like ‘Oh my god!’
“It’s a great buzz for the staff. They deserve it, they work hard and it’s been a tough summer.”
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