In 1974, the world-renowned Michelin guide turned its attention to Ireland for the very first time. One Michelin star went to The Russell, in Dublin, a pyrrhic victory, the hotel already sold before the announcement. Last year, Declan Ryan, the man who led the family-owned Cork restaurant to these stellar heights, said: “It came as a shock, but Michelin wasn't in the Irish consciousness at the time. Ballylickey held its star for just one year and, for the remainder of the 1970s, the remaining pair were Ireland’s only starred restaurants. Adding further fuel to an already feverish buzz is a conviction it will herald Ireland’s first-ever Michelin three-starred restaurant.

Source: The Herald February 07, 2026 02:10 UTC