One of the best known five-star hotels in the country, the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, last year increased pre-tax profits by 7% to €1.6m.

THE five-star hotel the President of the United States Barack Obama checked into but never stayed at, returned to pre-tax profit last year, new figures show.

ONE of the country’s plushest hotels, the five star Merrion in Dublin remained in the red last year although losses eased.

Tony Holland , chairman of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland has been awarded a knighthood in the British Birthday Honours today.