Taoiseach opens Castleknock Hotel

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has today officially opened the four-star Castleknock Hotel & Country Club in Dublin.

A Tower Hotel Group property and its largest hotel to date, the Castleknock & Country Club, is part of a €36m project and has been developed in tandem with Castleknock Golf Club, a new 18-hole course adjacent to the hotel.

About 150 full and part time jobs have been created with its opening.

"Today represents a great day for tourism, business and jobs here in Castleknock," said Mr Ahern. "The hotel will enhance our capital as an attractive venue for business tourism. And that is a sector that Ireland has the capacity to develop considerably. We have the quality facilities, backed up by professional expertise."

Castleknock Hotel & Country Club has 140 bedrooms and four executive suites, conference facilities for up to 400 people and a designated business centre.

The Castleknock Golf Course, developed by Monarch properties at a cost of €10m, is expected to open by September 2005.

Tower Hotel Group is part owned by FBD Insurance and includes Faithlegg House Hotel Waterford, Tower Hotel Waterford, Castlerosse Hotel Killarney, Temple Bar Hotel Dublin and Tower Hotel Derry.