Celebrity nuptials help put Lough Rynn back in black

THE staging of the Brian O’Driscoll-Amy Huberman wedding reception at the five-star Lough Rynn Castle contributed to the hotel’s return to profit last year.

Hotel director of the Hanly Group, Clement Gaffney confirmed yesterday that the hotel returned a cash profit last year after recording an after-tax loss of €101,258 in 2009.

Mr Gaffney said Lough Rynn Castle had benefited hugely from the publicity surrounding the O’Driscoll/ Huberman wedding.

He said: “We were very honoured that the couple chose Lough Rynn and it was our pleasure to look after them, their families and friends.”

Mr Gaffney said that the staging of the wedding “led to a significant number of couples viewing the property for weddings”.

“The exposure for the hotel from the wedding was great and brought Lough Rynn to a wider audience.”

Mr Gaffney anticipates Lough Rynn will increase its wedding business by 10% in 2011.

He said that close to 100 wedding receptions were held at the hotel last year and that revenues at Lough Rynn increased by 10% in 2010 over 2009.

The recently-returned accounts for Lough Rynn Castle to the Companies Office are abridged and Mr Gaffney declined to provide 2010 revenue figures.

The losses sustained in 2009 follow the company recording an after-tax profit of €232,234 in 2008.

Mr Gaffney said the losses sustained in 2009 arose from reduced levels of turnover at the 42-bedroom hotel.

He added: “We are very pleased with how the hotel performed in challenging times during 2010.”