Mayo Golf Links recognised at national tourism awards

Carne Golf Links in Belmullet has been named Best Employer in the Activity category at the Fáilte Ireland Employer Excellence Awards 2026.

The awards, which took place at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin, recognised 16 tourism businesses across Ireland for excellence in employee engagement and workplace culture.

The Erris golf course was among the winners at the fourth annual ceremony, which forms part of Fáilte Ireland's Employer Excellence Programme. Since its launch in 2022, the programme has supported over 300 businesses and positively influenced more than 30,000 employees nationwide.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said the programme was playing a critical role in ensuring people in the tourism sector were supported, valued and given the opportunity to thrive.

Caroline Bocquel, chief executive of Fáilte Ireland, said tourism was at its core a people industry and the quality of the visitor experience was directly shaped by the people who deliver it.

"The Employer Excellence Awards recognise those businesses that are placing their people at the centre of their success," she said.

Businesses that complete the programme receive the Employer Excellence mark, a recognised symbol signalling a high-quality workplace and strong commitment to employees. Participating businesses also receive people management training, employee insight, and access to HR expertise.