Cork restaurant ORSO wins national tourism employer award

Cork restaurant ORSO Kitchen & Bar has been named Best Irish Food & Drink Employer at the Fáilte Ireland Employer Excellence Awards 2026, marking the second consecutive year the city-centre venue has secured the national title. The awards, held at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin, recognise tourism and hospitality businesses that demonstrate outstanding employee engagement, workplace culture and staff development practices. ORSO was the only restaurant to receive one of the 14 top awards presented at this year's ceremony, underlining the growing recognition of its approach to employee wellbeing and career progression. The restaurant forms part of the Market Lane Group, one of Cork's best-known hospitality operators. The group also includes Market Lane Restaurant, Elbow Lane Smokehouse & Brewery, Goldie and the Castle Café in Blackrock. The group has a strong track record at the awards, with both Goldie and Elbow Lane previously receiving honours, alongside recognition for the wider organisation. Meanwhile, the Talbot Hotel Cork was presented with the Excellence Breakthrough Award, highlighting another strong performance for Cork's tourism and hospitality sector. The Fáilte Ireland Employer Excellence programme aims to improve employment standards across the tourism industry by helping businesses strengthen employee engagement, retention and workplace culture through tailored action plans and benchmarking. Commenting on the win, ORSO owner and manager Dee Munelly said the award reflected the commitment of staff across the business. "We are beyond proud to be recognised for this award for the second year running," she said. The restaurant forms part of the Market Lane Group, one of Cork's best-known hospitality operators. "Winning once is very special, but winning twice is the icing on the cake. It has been a massive team effort across our restaurant group, and the engagement from our employees, particularly at ORSO, is a testament to the programme itself." Munelly added that supporting employees and helping them build long-term careers in hospitality remains a core focus for the business. Photo: Caroline Bocquel, CEO, Fáilte Ireland, presenting the Best Employer – Food & Drink Award to Dee Munnelly, Orso Kitchen & Bar, Co. Cork.

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