John Brennan: Dromquinna Manor has exceeded expectations

One half of one of Irish TV’s most popular double acts, hotelier John Brennan, said yesterday that the performance of his Dromquinna Manor venture “has exceeded expectations”.

Star of RTÉ’s At Your Service, Mr Brennan was commenting on new filings by Cloud Nine Management Services Ltd, which operates Dromquinna Manor, showing that accumulated profits increased by 142%, from €57,772 to €139,989 in 2013.

The firm’s cash pile increased more than sixfold, from €21,862 to €129,770.

Mr Brennan said yesterday that there is no question but that Dromquinna is already more profitable than the Brennans’ five-star Park Hotel nearby.

“The key to Drumquinna’s success is that it doesn’t carry costs when it is not busy. It is a lovely business model,” he said. “In 2014, we reached Dromquinna’s potential in a very short period of time.”

Drumquinna was once on the market for €12m to €15m before its asking price slumped to around €2m in a lease option to buy deal. Mr Brennan snapped the property up for an undisclosed sum in 2011.

The manor doesn’t provide bednights (Mr Brennan said it provided around 25,000 bednights last year) but has proven to be a popular wedding destination, with bridal parties arriving by boat to their reception at the bayside manor along Kenmare Bay where they are treated to champagne and canapés en route.

Mr Brennan said there are six distinct businesses at Drumquinna Manor that all complement each other, including luxury camping or ‘glamping’, dedicated motorhome pitches, a wedding destination, and its Boathouse Bistro. He said the spin-off from business for Kenmare “is colossal”.

He said: “The great thing is that we are not taking business from any local businesses, but we are competing with other destinations in the likes of Italy. That is our biggest competition.”

Mr Brennan said Dromquinna “perfectly complements the Park Hotel and the Park Hotel perfectly complements Dromquinna”.

“It is a gem of a property with its location and ambience. It really captures the imagination of anyone who comes here. We are very lucky to have it,” he said.

”In 2014, we reached Dromquinna’s potential in a very short period of time.”