The managing director of the five-star Dromoland Castle hotel said yesterday that the business is going through “a nice purple patch” as pre-tax profits last year increased more than fivefold to €324,889.

The general manager of the five-star Dromoland Castle hotel, Mark Nolan, said yesterday that he expects the revenues at the hotel and adjoining Inn at Dromoland to top €17m this year.

Increased capital spend at the firm that operates the five-star Dromoland Castle hotel last year contributed to pre-tax profits at the business decreasing by 73% to €63,816.

Mark C. Nolan, €30

The collapse of an online tour operator has left a trail of unpaid debts, with some of Ireland’s best-known five-star hotels incurring losses.

A High Court judge has refused to grant the 18th Baron of Inchiquin, Conor O’Brien, a mandatory order for the recovery of his 37 ancestral portraits that hang in Dromoland Castle Hotel.

By Ray Managh

A High Court judge has reserved judgment on an application by Lord Inchiquin for the recovery of 37 ancestral portraits, including one of Brian Boru.

The 18th Baron Inchiquin turned up at Dromoland Castle Hotel in the early hours of the morning with a Northern Ireland removals company in a bid to unlawfully take family portraits off the walls, the High Court has been told.

Dromoland Castle returned to record a pre-tax profit last year.

The holiday industry yesterday sounded an upbeat note on the prospects for the coming high-tourist season.

Irish triathletes Mark Nolan and Matt Molloy both scooped gold medals at the European Triathlon Championships in Eilat, Israel yesterday.

St Mary’s claimed their first Hogan Cup success with a stunning performance at Croke Park on Saturday.

One of the world’s most famous and stunning solar phenomena is eagerly expected over Irish skies in the coming weeks, stargazers have said.

OPERATING profits at one of the country’s best known five-star hotels, Dromoland Castle in Co Clare, dropped last year by 14% to €1.2 million.

FIVE-star hotel prices are 60% cheaper than they were at the height of the boom.

Galway United entertain Drogheda United tonight in this bottom-of-the-table clash at Terryland Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

SHAMROCK ROVERS will be hoping to at least keep their two-point lead at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division when they take on Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds tonight (7.45).

It's top versus bottom as league leaders Shamrock Rovers take on Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium tonight (kick-off 8pm).

IT’S back to his Alma mater, and back to basics for Greg Bolger tonight as Dundalk strive to put last weekend’s Setanta Sports Cup final disappointment against Shamrock Rovers behind them.

Drogheda United 1 Dundalk 2

DROGHEDA United are still waiting for their first league win of the season after Sean Kelly’s second-half strike rescued a point for Galway at Hunky Dorys Park last night.

Drogheda United 1 Galway United 1

SHAMROCK ROVERS will be hoping to extend their 100% record for the season when they take on newly promoted Derry City at the Brandywell in the pick of tonight’s Airtricity League Premier Division ties.

THEY spring up like mushrooms in the boom years but delegates at a high-powered seminar today won’t be surprised to hear that the country’s golf clubs are now under-utilised by up to 30%.

IN the giddy days of plenty, five-star hotels charged stellar prices, but leaner times have brought charges crashing back to earth.

THE luxurious Castlemartyr resort in East Cork will reopen within weeks under the world-renowned Dromoland hotels brand.

THE five-star Castlemartyr Hotel, which was formally operated by Capella, is to re-open under the management of Dromoland, creating 100 jobs.

DIT 0-18 Kilkenny 2-6

The FAI have published their list of disciplinary committee decisions.

IF a cardiologist had hooked a Munster supporter up to a heart monitor last Saturday evening, he’d have been able to tell what was happening in the Millennium Stadium without switching on the television.

Antrim footballers firmly made their long journey to Cusack Park, Ennis a fruitful one with a convincing 13 points victory over Clare by 1-13 to 0-3 this afternoon.

MORE than €100 million of investment in tourism infrastructure across the Shannon region was put on hold yesterday due to fears about the loss of the Heathrow link.

Two major multi-million euro tourism investment packages in the south-west of Ireland have been put on hold since Aer Lingus announced its scrapping of the Shannon Heathrow service.

More than half of the Carlow team for Sunday's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Offaly will be making their championship debuts in Portlaoise (throw-in 2.10pm).

Páidí Ó Sé's first league game in charge of Clare ended in a 0-17 to 0-9 victory as centre forward Michael O'Shea hit two crucial late scores against Carlow.

St Lachtin’s, Freshford 2-19 St James, Ardfield, Cork 3-8