We are delighted to be hosting The Irish Soda Bread Way in the Clew bay Hotel/Maddens on James Street, Westport. It is a landmark family run, personal hotel with the most helpful of staff. It’s location is perfect, right in the centre of Westport. As you drive into Westport from Castlebar, drive over the bridge and follow Westport’s one -way flow of traffic, keeping right. Turn right at The Clock and keep right past The Octagon. Continue half way down James Street and take the left turn into the James Street Car-Park, where you can park for 3 euros. We are right beside it. So easy to find!
Recently, the Clew bay Hotel/Maddens posted a lovely feature about the hotel and the family. We have included it below. Continued succes to Brid, Maria and Darren. Thanks for having us!
“The woman behind the Clew Bay Hotel’s success story is Brid Ruddy. Originally from a small town just outside Castlebar, Brid has certainly made a name for herself in Westport.
Herself and her husband Brian moved to Westport in 1959. They bought a building from the well known local family the Hastings, and opened a B&B. Originally, this building only had 6 bedrooms but after a visit to Bundoran, Brian & Brid were inspired to open a chip shop too. The first in the town!
Brid fondly recalls the opening night with queues from the top of James St to try the fish & chips. Cod was sourced locally from Westport Harbour and Brian created great relationships with the local fishermen and was one of the first people to market Westport abroad to the German & Dutch.
In 1963, they opened as the Clew Bay Hotel which now included a bar. From then it throve with showbands, dinner dances, GAA and political functions. Indeed, Irish Taoiseachs from Jack Lynch to Micheál Martin have also visited the hotel.
Sadly, in 1976, Brian passed away suddenly. Brid’s strength shone through, as she continued to run a very successful business and the hotels popularity grew.
Brid is now 95 years old, and still keeps an eye on the hotel but she knows it’s in safe hands! In 1995, Maria, Brid’s daughter, and her husband Darren Madden took over the hotel and embarked on a redevelopment plan. In 2015 they bought the premises next door which was originally known as the Royal Hotel and redeveloped Maddens Bar & Restaurant. Today it is an award winning, sustainable green business offering the same warm welcome to all our locals and visitors. Our signature dish is still of course Ruddy’s Famous Fish & Chips!”.
https://www.clewbayhotel.com 
