McGettigan Group Chairman Jim McGettigan has been honoured with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Pubs Global Awards.
The popular Irish bar chain took home five awards in total at the Irish Pubs Global Awards in Dublin last night.
Kilmacrennan native Jim McGettigan was surrounded by his family to celebrate the honour and mark the many achievements of the hospitality group.
Jim opened his first pub in Dublin in 1964. The McGettigan group has since expanded across the globe, and now incorporates 10 hotels and 15 Irish pubs, with the 16th opening in Dubai this month.
“We are honouring a wonderful family man who has achieved so much in his career. Jim has made an extraordinary contribution to Irish and Global hospitality” says Sarah Newman, Irish Pubs Global.
Jim McGettigan and Family at the Irish Pubs Global Awards 2017
McGettigan’s roots go back to 1964, when founder Jim McGettigan opened his first pub on Queen Street, Dublin.
Hailing from Kilmacrennan, Co. Donegal, Jim McGettigan was the eldest of nine children – three brothers and six sisters. At the age of 14 years, he left school to work at a local pub, in order to help out with his family’s finances.
Soon after, Jim got a job working on board the Queen Elizabeth I (QE1) washing dishes, before becoming a waiter and working his way up the ranks. After eight years on the QE1, and upon meeting his wife in Southampton, he returned to Ireland and bought his first pub on Queen Street in 1964 and so, the first McGettigan’s bar was born.
Jim in Queen Street with brother Neil
Then in 1969, Jim purchased another building, which was in liquidation, and called it The Baggot Inn. Few venues can boast such a colourful history and well known patrons. A young Bono was almost turned away from these world famous doors for looking under age, Tracey Chapman launched her career here. Bob Geldof begged for a month before he was given a gig.
U2, David Bowie, Christy Moore, Thin Lizzy, Mary Coughlan and The Water-boys and all performed some of their best gigs in these four walls.
In 1978, Jim McGettigan bought his first hotel and continued to purchase properties and hotels for the years after. By 1995, he had six hotels and two bars.
In 1999, he bought the three star Bonnington hotel in London and brought it up to 4 star hotel. In 2003 he bought the Cavendish Hotel in Eastbourne.
In 2005, Jim purchased a piece of sand in Dubai, which became the Bonnington Hotel in Jumeirah Lake Towers, and which opened in 2009.
Bonnington Hotel Dubai
McGettigan’s NYC launch June 2015 – Dennis McGettigan, Jim McGettian and Wife Patrica, Lorraine McGettigan, Anita McGettigan and James McGettigan
A family business from the start, the idea to establish a chain of Irish pubs under the family name, originated through the vision of Jim’s son, Dennis McGettigan. The first McGettigan’s Irish pub opened its doors in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai in November 2010.
With the inaugural venue a success, the brand expanded further, with new bars opening across the UK and Ireland, the Middle East, Asia and USA.
Seven years later and there are a total of 16 McGettigan’s pubs worldwide including the original Queen street venue, with a further addition opening in October 2017 in Dubai at The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Hotel on JBR Walk and in the emirate of Al Ain and Ajman and one in Qatar.
CEO Dennis McGettigan
A number of bars are more actively in the works as well as a new concept Warehouse Bar + Kitchen in Letterkenny that opened in 2016 and has won Best Newcomer at the prestigious Sky 2017 Bar of the Year Awards. McGettigan’s Dublin 9 opened last weekend with a star studded party.
Jim McGettigan winning the Lifetime achievement award at the Irish Pubs Global Awards 2017
Speaking about the honour, CEO Dennis McGettigan says, “On behalf of myself, mum and my nine siblings, we are exceptionally proud of our father, Jim McGettigan. His achievements are incredible, he started out with nothing and now we have McGettigan’s pubs and hotels worldwide.”
Other awards for the McGettigan Group at last night’s Irish Pubs Global Awards include:
- McGettigan’s JLT in Dubai – Irish Pub of the Year
- McGettigan’s Souk Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai – Best Food Experience – Best Gastro Pub
- Group Executive Chef for McGettigan’s Pubs worldwide, Sligo native Derek Flynn, won the title Best Chef
- McGettigan’s Abu Dhabi – Best Irish Community Pub in the world
Best Food Award for the McGettigan Group at the Irish Pubs Global Awards 2017
“To be awarded out of all the Irish pubs in the world is a great honour and is testament to our popularity as a brand. McGettigan’s offers something for everyone, great drinks, and delicious food as well as live music, comedy and sport,” says CEO Dennis McGettigan.
“We are very proud of our staff and grateful to our customers, who have turned McGettigan’s into a household name throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world,” adds Dennis McGettigan.
Jim McGettigan with children Dennis, Lorraine and Maureen and McGettigan’s Ambassador golfer Shane Lowry
