This week the Europe Hotel & Resort had an extra special reason to celebrate reopening its doors as it also proudly celebrated its 60 year anniversary.

And over the next six days, to mark six decades of hospitality, the hotel will be showcasing various initiatives and innovations that it has introduced to ensure that it continues as one of Ireland’s leading hotels.

“We are very proud to be celebrating 60 years as a hotel this year," Michael Brennan, Managing Director of Killarney Hotels Ltd said.

"We are forever grateful for the ongoing support shown by guests that return each year and to those who visit us for the first time. The Europe Hotel & Resort has been established as a leader in Irish and international hospitality and our reputation is a true testament to the hard work and excellence of every employee over the past 60 years."

The hotel has 187 bedrooms and suites, most with private balconies, and award winning 50,000 sq. ft. spa, state-of-the-art conferencing and event facilities with nine meeting rooms, five dining outlets, two Bars and its own 400 acre farm producing beef and lamb for menus.

Where it began

In the 1950s, the Liebherr family’s love of Killarney was ignited. Industrial Engineer, Dr. Hans Liebherr wanted to expand the company’s already flourishing domestic crane productivity into the US and Commonwealth markets. Ireland was considered an optimal location for the expansion of the business, and his original sights were focused on a plot of land in Cork, until a local businessman from Killarney, Mr. Michael D. (Mackey) O'Shea, brought him to the small town for dinner and showed him the wonderful scenery of the Killarney Lakes. This was in 1958, and what happened next was the creation of a new business area – Liebherr Hotels. He proceeded to open the Liebherr Crane factory in Fossa, which today employs in excess of 800 people.

Within the next few years, Dr Liebherr then opened sister hotels, Hotel Ard na Sidhe in 1961 and Hotel Dunloe Castle in 1965.