Prestigious plaques adorn entrance to Castlebar’s Dining Room
By Tom Gillespie
CASTLEBAR restauranteurs Kevin and Shirley Stirzaker are running out of space - not for customers, but for somewhere to display their growing number of culinary awards.
Earlier this year chef Kevin was crowned the gourmet king of Connaught.
Manchester native Kevin and his wife Shirley run the Dining Room restaurant in the heart of Castlebar.
They had scooped the prestigious Chef of the Year for Connacht accolade at the YesChef Ireland Restaurant Awards - an award they also picked up in 2020.
Last week two prestigious plaques were delivered to the couple - Chef of the Year Connacht and Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year Connacht - and tradesmen immediately got to work erecting the plaques on the front of the premises where they joined several other accolades.
The Dining Room on Bridge Street in the county town were earlier this year nominated in four categories: Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, Front of House Team of the Year, Chief of the Year and Irish Culinary Experience of the Year.
As well as the top chef award, the restaurant was named the Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year for Connacht - and now they have the plaques to prove it.
Kevin left Manchester at the age of 17 to visit close friends in Ireland.
It was in Mayo that he met Shirley, the girl that would later become his wife. Working in restaurant kitchens from this young age, Kevin has always had a profound respect for skilled chefs.
Through an apprenticeship course with the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology he completed his qualification in the culinary arts, with an emphasis on practical cookery and classic techniques.
While studying he worked in a local butcher's, fine-tuning his skills and gaining a deeper appreciation for fine quality produce.
Kevin has honed his skills through the years and has found himself leading the service in some of Mayo’s best restaurants. He has also worked in London alongside world class chefs.
Working together in many restaurants through the years, it has been a life-long dream for Shirley and Kevin to open a restaurant of their own.
During this time Shirley has watched as Kevin developed his skills and rise to a leadership role. Together they have provided the best quality service by always supporting one another. Now 23 years on, they are truly grateful to finally live their dream.
Today, he and Shirley run the Dining Room, which would be known to Castlebar people as Breege McCarthy’s, where they offer a classic, intimate dining experience.
Kevin said: “We were delighted to have won the recent awards and now we have the plaques which we have proudly positioned in a prominent position outside our front door.”
Kevin added: “Castlebar has become one of Mayo’s premiere dining locations and at its heart is our seasonally inspired evening restaurant, the Dining Room.”
Reservations for the Dining Room can be made on (094) 9021861 or email diningroombook@gmail.com. The opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 6 to 9 p.m.