State papers 1987: Bertie Ahern didn’t want to sell CIE hotels

Bertie Ahern sought to reverse a decision of the previous government to sell the former CIE group of hotels. This was within months of his taking office in his first ministerial appointment.

As minister for labour, Mr Ahern argued that the six hotels, which formed the Great Southern chain, should be retained in State ownership.

The six hotels were the Great Southern in Killarney and in Galway, the Torc in Killarney, Parknasilla in Sneem, the Corrib in Galway, and the Rosslare.