Kilkenny’s five-star Lyrath Hotel has just been sold for well over €20m to an Irish consortium of buyers who plan to invest further in the 170-acre resort investment, which was developed at a boom-time cost of €50m.

Cookery schools, river walks and wildlife parks — Kilkenny has a lot to offer, says John Tynan.

A receiver has been appointed to the five-star Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny by Bank of Scotland Ireland.

The company that operates the €40 million Lyrath Hotel in Co Kilkenny recorded a pre-tax loss of €278,278 in 2010.