Hotel closure sees 130 staff let go

LIMERICK suffered another jobs blow yesterday when 130 staff at the Castletroy Park Hotel were let go as the hotel went into liquidation.

And fears also grew for jobs at the giant Aughinish plant near Askeaton, where production is being cut by 37%.

The Castletroy Park Hotel closed down yesterday and a notice was posted on the front door.

Up to 50 couples who have booked weddings at the hotel face losing their deposits.

Management met staff on Monday and told them of the hotel’s trading difficulties.

Brian Harrington, managing director of Castletroy Park Management Ltd, which operates the hotel, said they were engaging with relevant parties in an attempt to put a rescue package together.

He told staff that they would be told by the close of business tomorrow if the rescue effort was successful. However, staff found out yesterday that their jobs are gone.

Engaged couple, Simon Conlan, 28 and Miriam Hirad, 25, paid a €2,000 deposit to the hotel for their wedding reception planned for July 2010.

Mr Conlon said they needed their money back to move on with their wedding plans.

“If the company goes into liquidation we would be classed as unsecured creditors and secure creditors would be paid out first. Two thousand euro is a lot of money to some people and I’m working in Dell and still have a wedding to pay for.”

Meanwhile, there are concerns for jobs at the huge Aughinish plant on the Shannon Estuary where production is being cut by 37%.

Aughinish imports bauxite and produces alumina from it and this is exported for the manufacture of aluminium in smelters abroad.

While there are no immediate fears for the permanent workforce, companies doing contract work on the massive site have already begun to let workers go.