Fate of leaders’ beds in Cameron’s hands
Ferghal Purcell, manager of the five-star Lough Erne Resort, revealed yesterday that British prime minister David Cameron faced the tricky task of deciding which two world leaders got the two most swish rooms in the Fermanagh venue.
Speaking on RTÉ radio, he said Cameron had visited the Lough Erne Resort on Nov 20 last and viewed it personally.
“We had a sense that something was afoot,” he said, “We had persuaded ourselves it was the Queen all along.
“When it was eventually announced it was the G8 it was almost unbelievable.
“It was a little unreal.”
He said Mr Cameron was energetic and charming, speaking with staff as he was taken on a tour of the premises.
It is maybe just as well he has versed himself with the finer details of the resort, as it fell to Mr Cameron to allocate the rooms.
“I am grateful for small mercies,” Mr Purcell said. “You can imagine the headache of saying who stays where.”
Of the two special suites, he said the details of who would receive them would only be revealed yesterday evening, “when the final allocations are given to us”.
He joked that while there is a growing trend in hotels for dispensing with room service, he expected quite a bit of room service would be happening in the coming days.
While there was an expectation that the two main suites would go to US President Barrack Obama and Russian president Vladimir Putin, other considerations included organising a special breakfast for the Japanese delegation and access to the gym for Putin.
The first of the leaders attending the G8 summit are expected to begin arriving this morning.
A 10km exclusion zone had been placed around the resort as the world’s top eight leaders hold talks, while 8,000 police officers will be on duty. A massive security operation is also under way in Belfast as the leaders — including German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande, and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe — arrive into the North ahead of the summit.
Meanwhile, coverage of Obama’s visit to Belfast will be carried live on Morning Edition on RTÉ One and RTÉ News Now, while Bryan Dobson will present an RTÉ News special at 5pm as First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha visit Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre.
*The Ulster Council last night denied that fears over traffic delays in Enniskillen had dented the attendance at yesterday’s senior football championship at Brewster Park.
A modest crowd of 9,352 watched Fermanagh take on Cavan, with the Breffni fans easily outnumbering the home supporters.
Despite assurances last week that 7,000 car- parking spaces were being made available for GAA fans in the centre of the town, many stayed away.
However, Ulster Council president Martin McAviney last night said he was satisfied with the turn-out.
“The event ran to plan and as a result of good organisation we were able to facilitate a match crowd of just under 10,000 with minimal disruption. I would especially thank both the Fermanagh and Cavan GAA County Committees and all the spectators who travelled to Brewster Park for their co-operation during the match and their continued support.
“Attendances for the 2013 Ulster GAA Football Championship are at this stage up on 2012 and we now look forward to two exciting semi-finals over the next two weeks.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
