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Killarney’s An Óige hostel wins prestigious Experts Choice Award
SUCCESS: Killarney International Hostel has won the Best of Killarney award at the 2019 ExpertsÕ Choice Awards: Pictured were: Sinead O'Connell, Fiona Curnow, Paul Huggett, John Claffey (Manager) and JC Brosnan. Photo: Michelle Crean
By Michelle Crean
Killarney International Hostel were big winners at the recent 2019 Experts’ Choice Awards after walking away with the Best of Killarney award.
Now in its fourth year, the Experts’ Choice Awards is much sought after in the travel industry as awards are based on professional expert reviews. Fewer than two percent of hotels and hostels worldwide receive a prestigious Experts Choice award.
The hostel is owned and operated by An Óige – Irish Youth Hostel Association and this week Manager John Claffrey, who has run the business for the past 27 years, said they are thrilled with the news.
“It’s always great to get nominated for an award but to win one is even that bit more special,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.
“What makes these awards even more special is that they’re based on the reviews of industry experts so they obviously found our hostel to be of top quality and a great experience which is exactly what we always want to hear.”
The hostel itself is housed in an 18th century mansion and set of 75 acres of gardens and forest overlooking the mountains and Killarney National Park. It is considered one of An Óige’s most environmentally friendly hostels as almost all waste produced by the hostel is recycled or composted.
The hostel, located just off the Fossa road, opened in 1959, with an ethos of bringing groups, including disadvantaged children from urban areas to the countryside for a break, John explained.
“We open eight months of the year and cater for 137 in the high season. We cater for groups only during the low season for four months.”
It isn’t the first time that the hostel has received acclaim as it was previously shortlisted in the Top 5 ‘Favourite Irish Hostels’ as voted for by the readers of TNT Magazine in 2012.
He added a huge thanks to everyone involved in running the business including the dedicated staff.
“It’s nice to be recognised and we thank everyone involved.”
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