Anxious wait for couples as venue may close

DOZENS of brides-to-be will have a nervous wait to see if there big day can go ahead after it emerged that a well-known Co Kildare wedding venue might have to close its doors.

The High Court appointed an examiner to Kilkea Castle in Castledermot, Co Kildare, earlier this week after it emerged the company that operates the venue has debts of about €1.5m.

The move has sparked major concern among dozens of couples who have already booked their wedding reception at the picturesque 12th century castle.

Kilkea Castle has taken in some €900,000 in deposits from couples who are now anxious about the security of their money.

Kilkea Castle seeks a deposit of €2,000 for provisional bookings. In addition, 50% of the estimated cost of the wedding function has to be paid three months in advance of the event.

The venue is due to host 17 weddings alone in December and it also has taken a large number of bookings for 2010.

High Court judge Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan allowed the company breathing space from its creditors for 70 days after she ruled there was evidence that Kilkea Castle had a reasonable prospect of survival.

The castle, which employs 65 people, has traded successfully since it opened in 1989 until 2006. However, it has sustained losses in recent years due to the general economic downturn and competition from rival facilities located in the golf club adjoining the hotel.

Leoville, the company which leases Kilkea Castle, has blamed the owner’s refusal to reduce the annual rent of €515,000 for its trading difficulties.

One female caller to RTÉ’s Liveline programme yesterday, who has booked her wedding reception at Kilkea Castle in December, praised the hotel’s staff for their assistance and courtesy over the issue.

However, she claimed weddings were only being guaranteed until the end of November which meant she might have “12 days to organise something else”.

It is understood some couples who have made bookings have been offered an alternative reception at the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare, which will honour deposits and terms already agreed between Kilkea Castle and its clients.

However, many are likely to wait and see how the situation develops before they alter plans for their wedding function.

It is believed the court-appointed examiner, Joe Moreau of accountancy firm, Byrne, Moreau, Connell has informed couples who have booked their wedding reception at Kilkea Castle that he will not be in a position for several more weeks to say if the venue will remain open.

A spokesperson for Kilkea Castle could not be contacted for comment.