Mayo venue finalist for national ‘Best Place to Work’ Award

BALLINA’S all-day and all night venue, Bar Square, has been named a finalist in the Best Place to Work category at the prestigious eir Chamber Awards 2026, recognising the venue’s people-first culture and outstanding team environment and effort within Ireland’s hospitality industry.

The national awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland and eir, celebrate excellence, innovation and leadership across Irish business, with finalists from across the country gathering at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre this June for the black-tie awards ceremony.

Bar Square joins a shortlist featuring some of Ireland’s leading hospitality groups, engineering firms and national employers, marking a major achievement for the Ballina business and its staff.

Owner Clair Carr said the recognition reflects the people behind the business every day.

“Bar Square simply wouldn’t be what it is without the incredible people behind it. From our floor staff and bar staff to security, kitchen, cleaning and management, every single person plays a part in creating the atmosphere and experience people know us for.

“Hospitality can be a fast-paced and demanding industry to work in, but we’ve always believed that when you look after your team, it shows in everything else. To be recognised nationally for that means a huge amount to us.”

Over the past year, Bar Square has continued to evolve as a social and hospitality venue in the heart of Ballina, with a renewed focus on food, live music, celebrations and community-led events.

The upstairs space, once known as the nightclub Time Square, is now being developed as a flexible event space for the town: Hosting private celebrations such as engagements, 18ths and 50ths, as well as community gatherings, meetings and special events, reflecting a wider move towards creating a venue that serves the community in more ways than one.

Bar Square has also expanded its live entertainment offering, introducing earlier live music sessions, Friday karaoke nights and Sunday community barbecues as part of a broader strategy to create a more inclusive and community-driven venue experience.

As part of the venue's renewed focus on live music and community events, Bar Square will launch a new Open Mic Summer Series on June 4, running every Thursday throughout the summer. The series will give young musicians and emerging talent across Mayo the chance to perform live on stage with a full band, build confidence and be heard by a local audience. The summer series will lead to a live final, where one overall winner will receive €500 towards a PA system to help support their next step as a performer.

Clair Carr said the vision for Bar Square is to continue creating a venue that feels welcoming, energetic and rooted in the local community.

“We want Bar Square to be more than somewhere people simply go for a night out. Whether it’s food, celebrations, live music, community events or giving young performers a platform, we want it to feel like a place that brings people together.”

The eir Chamber Awards finalists represent businesses from across Ireland recognised for excellence in workplace culture, leadership and innovation.