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The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens re-opens after €18m renovation

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The five-star Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, located close to one of Ireland’s most iconic tourist destinations, the Gap of Dunloe, officially opened its doors last Friday after undergoing a stunning 18-month renovation of the restaurant, bar, reception, lobby and lounge spaces as well as the enhancement of the gardens and car park.

A substantial €18million investment by the hotel’s owners, the Liebherr family, has brought new life to the hotel, enhancing its long-standing relationship with the beautiful surroundings and maximising the property’s unrivalled views of the Gap of Dunloe. The Liebherr family has been at the forefront of tourism and manufacturing industries in Killarney and the surrounding areas for over 60 years, employing 1,000 people across the country. Tánaiste Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, joined Dr Isolde Liebherr to celebrate and welcome the reopening of this magnificent five-star hotel.

Speaking at the official re-opening, Tánaiste Simon Coveney TD said: “It is my great pleasure to open a new jewel for tourists in Ireland, in a place that is one of the jewels in the crown of our entire tourist industry. The Liebherr family’s commitment to Ireland, with more than 1,000 employees, is so important and appreciated. The rebirth of this hotel is a further sign of the Liebherrs’ dedication”.

Local building contractors Griffin Brothers led the year-and-a-half-long renovation with the assistance of O’Carroll Engineering who implemented the building’s steel works. At the height of the build, the site had over 160 people working across all areas, including Tralee company Designer Landscapes Ltd who, along with Head Gardener Dave Barry, updated the gardens and outdoor spaces using a beautiful collection of native and international flora and greenery finished with Kilkenny limestone.

Swiss company Monoplan took the lead on the design aspect of the build. Despite updating and reinventing the hotel spaces, the Monoplan team was eager to retain and reinforce existing elements of the property that made it so special. The transformation begins at the driveway where guests instantly perceive the Dunloe Castle Heritage Park with its unique tree population.

The public areas of The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens were redesigned and rebuilt to ensure optimum efficiency and accessibility throughout the hotel. The primary focus of the build was to retain the identity and integrity of The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens to give guests a sense of homecoming with the familiar silhouette of the two towers and an interior design that relates to the tradition of the hotel. It was equally important to create a whole new building with extraordinary spaces, new terraces and a design that lives up to the expectations of a five-Star hotel.

Managing Partner at Monoplan, Philip Wohlfarth, said of the renovation: “The double height window in The Grill Restaurant ensures that everyone will be able to take in the beauty of the Gap of Dunloe. The new terraces and enhanced landscaping will allow the hotel’s customers to sit outside and enjoy the magnificent surroundings”.

The restaurant overlooks the iconic view of the Gap of Dunloe in spectacular fashion, with a room height of six metres and huge panoramic windows to the south. This area is characterised by natural light, fresh colours and the connection of interior and exterior. In contrast to this, the lobby, the library tower and the bar have been designed in such a way that dark, warm tones and precious materials create an inviting, rather introverted atmosphere to sink into.

In the façades of the towers the new, the old and newly-interpreted come together in an exemplary way with the familiar stained glass flower windows which were removed, cleaned and re-set in the stone clad tower, juxtaposed to protruding contemporary window reveals in dark aluminium. Similarly, the interior design combines existing pieces of furniture and artwork with a whole new fit-out that is rich in texture and detail, completed with bold wallpapers and traditional tiles.

Speaking at the re-opening of the hotel, Managing Director of Killarney Hotels Ltd, Michael Brennan, said: “After an 18-month refurbishment and renovation we are delighted to be re-opening The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens. The Liebherr family has over the past 60 years continually re-invested in their hotels and the completion of this latest renovation project demonstrates once again their commitment to Killarney and the surrounding area. We look forward to showcasing the magnificent work that has been done here at The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, which has enhanced the facilities we offer our guests and has increased employment within the hotel sector. The hotel has a rich history but in all its many years has never looked as good as it does now”.

The gardens at The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens are celebrated in all aspects of the renovation and can be enjoyed both outside and from within the property. Guests can traverse the world in an hour in the gardens of the hotel. The voyage starts with Chilean fir trees and leads on to Australian gums, South African lilies, New Zealand cabbage trees, New Zealand cherries, Japanese maples, North American dogwoods, South American fuchsias and back to its roots with a Killarney strawberry tree. While the newly developed herb garden delivers fresh seasonal herbs for the hotel’s chefs.

“The new planting has been designed to complement the existing garden,” explains Head Gardener Dave Barry. “An example would be the new roundabout that has been planted with large pine trees. These are similar to the pine trees that were planted in the 1920s and tower over the entrance of the gardens.  On the south side guests are overlooking a 300-year-old mature oak tree with the stunning view of the Gap of Dunloe in the background.”

The gardens surrounding the shell of MacThomas' medieval keep have a dramatic setting, looking towards the mountains girdled by the Ring of Kerry. Camellias, magnolias, roses and rhododendrons, handpicked by renowned plantsman Sir Roy Lancaster, now flourish in the sheltered grounds together with rare specimens such as the aromatic-leaved 'Headache' tree. In the paddocks to the front of the hotel, descendants of Hafflinger ponies brought over by Dr Hans Liebherr half a century ago still graze in the lush paddocks and will continue to bring joy to guests of all ages.

Speaking about the re-opening of The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, said: "This is very positive news for Kerry tourism. The Europe, The Dunloe and Ard na Sidhe hotels are some of the top hotels in Kerry and this investment builds on a strong tradition of hospitality by this hotel group. I wish the management and their teams the best of luck with the re-opening and assure everyone involved that the government is fully committed to working with them to achieve the best possible future for the tourism industry."

2018 marks the beginning of a new chapter in the story of The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens. A chapter that is a fitting foundation for the next half-century.

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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