Hibernian Bar Shortlisted at the Irish Bar & Cocktail Awards
A Celebration of Hospitality, Whiskey and Kilkenny Character
At the heart of Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, part of the Inua Collection, Hibernian Bar has long been a place where guests settle in, stay awhile, and experience the warmth of genuine Irish hospitality.
Now, that experience has been recognised on a national stage, with Hibernian Bar shortlisted across seven categories at the prestigious Irish Bar & Cocktail Awards, including Best City Bar, Best Cocktail Bar, Best Hotel Bar, Best Traditional Bar, Best Whiskey Bar, Outstanding Customer Service, and Bar Manager of the Year.
For Bar Manager Liam Donnelly, the recognition is a reflection of the dedication, passion, and consistency of the entire team.
“It’s an honour to be shortlisted, and it’s a credit to how hard the team works.”
Where Kilkenny Comes to Unwind
Located within the historic Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, Hibernian Bar blends the character of the city with the relaxed elegance guests have come to expect from the Inua Collection.
Housed in a beautifully restored former bank building in the centre of Kilkenny, the space carries a distinct atmosphere, historic yet contemporary, polished yet welcoming.
By day, the bar offers a relaxed setting for:
• Lunch and light dining
• Coffee and casual meetings
• Afternoon drinks in the city centre
By evening, the atmosphere shifts effortlessly into something richer and more intimate:
• Warm lighting
• Irish whiskey
• Live traditional music
• Carefully crafted cocktails
It’s the kind of place that feels timeless, not because it tries to be, but because it knows exactly what it is.
Hibernian Bar is proud to be part of the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, a collective dedicated to preserving and celebrating the city’s deep-rooted connection to Irish whiskey.
Kilkenny’s whiskey story stretches back more than 700 years, with one of Ireland’s earliest written references to distilled spirits, Aqua Vitae, appearing in the historic Red Book of Ossory.
Today, that heritage lives on through curated whiskey experiences at Hibernian Bar. Guests can enjoy:
• Guided Irish whiskey tastings
• Whiskey flights featuring multiple styles
• Monthly featured whiskeys
• Expert recommendations from the bar team
“We pride ourselves on our Irish whiskey collection,” says Liam. The approach is welcoming and approachable, offering knowledge without pretension and inviting guests to explore Irish whiskey at their own pace.
The Cocktail That Defines the Bar
Every standout bar has a signature serve.
At Hibernian Bar, it’s the Hibernian Smoked Old Fashioned. Prepared using flavoured wood chips to create its distinctive smoky finish, the cocktail delivers both theatre and balance, a modern interpretation of a classic whiskey cocktail.
It’s become one of the bar’s most talked-about drinks and perfectly reflects the atmosphere of the space itself: confident, refined, and memorable without ever feeling overdone.
Live Music and the Spirit of Kilkenny
As the evening unfolds, live music becomes part of the experience at Hibernian Bar, with performances taking place Monday to Friday and again on Sundays from 9pm to 11pm.
Local performers including Mór agus Beag and Tomás Jackman bring traditional Irish music and contemporary energy to the venue throughout the week.
“Live music brings a crowd into the bar and an energy that nothing else can.”
For Liam, the perfect evening at Hibernian Bar begins with a cocktail on arrival, followed by a three-course dining experience from Head Chef Jonathan Webster, paired wines, barista coffee, and an Irish whiskey enjoyed alongside live music.
It’s an experience that captures the atmosphere of Kilkenny at its best: welcoming, social, and effortlessly memorable.
Recognising the Team Behind the Experience
The shortlist recognition at the Irish Bar & Cocktail Awards is a celebration not only of the venue itself, but of the people behind it.
From attentive service to expertly crafted drinks and genuine hospitality, the Hibernian Bar team continues to create one of the most distinctive hotel bar experiences in Kilkenny.
Congratulations to Liam Donnelly and the entire Hibernian Bar team on this well-deserved recognition.