A Donegal holiday home has been named amongst the best in the country in a national travel awards scheme by Sykes Holiday Cottages.
Mulroy View, a five-bedroom cottage overlooking Mulroy Bay near Kerrykeel in County Donegal, picked up the silver award.
The property is ideal for families and friends celebrating special occasions or looking to explore this part of the country.
The Donegal property was only bettered by Marino, an impressive rental property in Liscannor, County Clare.
It took home gold thanks to its cosy living spaces and spectacular sea views. The property has a nautical theme, with décor inspired by the nearby fishing village and harbour.
Bronze was awarded to A Country View Cottage, a rental close to Athenry in County Galway with its own games room including a full-size snooker table and minibar.
Now in its third year, Sykes received 2,500 entries from throughout the UK and Ireland across 30 categories – ranging from Best for Romance to Best for Glamping, alongside regional winners.
All three properties beat off tough competition from others shortlisted, but the judges were impressed by their style and facilities, as well as occupancy rates and customer feedback on cleanliness, comfort, location and value for money.
Harriet Kerr, commercial director at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “The Sykes Gem Awards have given us the chance to celebrate unique holiday homes and their owners. More and more travellers are opting for staycations over holidays on the continent, and last year we saw a boost in bookings to Ireland.
“Because of this, those with a second home or money to invest are increasingly turning to holiday letting – who knows, we may see them on the Sykes Gems shortlist next year!”
Graham Donoghue, Sykes Holiday Cottages’ CEO, added: “We launched the awards to recognise and reward the hard work of the owners who are part of the Sykes family. Back then, we had no idea how popular they would be, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the response and this year received a record number of submissions.
“I love being part of the judging panel – you hear about peoples’ passion for holiday letting and everything they do to go above and beyond to deliver unforgettable breaks throughout the UK and Ireland.”
Cormac O’Suilleabhain, from Tourism Ireland, said: “Awards like this one serve to shine a spotlight on Ireland and the brilliant breaks available here. I was blown away by the standard of the entries, so it was tough to choose between them, but all three properties are very deserving winners.”
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