Temporary closure sees Ashford Castle hotel fall into red

Salaries of over €1m paid to 200 temporarily laid-off staff at the five-star Ashford Castle hotel, while the business was shut down for three months last year, contributed to the hotel incurring losses of €4m in 2014.

Speaking yesterday, managing director of Red Carnation Hotels, Jonathan Raggett, confirmed that the business last year paid staff over €1m while they were off work as the hotel underwent the first phase of a major restoration.

He said that the business again this year paid out over €1m to staff for the three months they were off during the second period of restoration.