Anxious planning wait for hotelier

CELEBRITY hotelier John Brennan faces an anxious wait before learning if his dream of developing a luxury holiday complex near Kenmare, Co Kerry, will be allowed to proceed by planning officials.

It has emerged that his ambition to redevelop a hotel property he bought last year, for an estimated cut-price €2 million, has been stalled as the project would materially contravene the county development plan.

Mr Brennan and his wife, Gwen, purchased Dromquinna Manor in south Kerry with a view to developing a top-class conference and wedding facility, separate from the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare which he operates with his brother Francis.