Court appoints provisional liquidator to Ballykisteen Hotel

A provisional liquidator has been appointed to a Co Tipperary hotel with 75 weddings on the books - including one scheduled for tomorrow.

The High Court has heard the four star Ballykisteen Hotel at Limerick Junction has been operating without liquor and dance licenses.

Provisional liquidator Jim Hamilton will be taking over the immediate running of the hotel after Ulster Bank's lawyers impressed on the High Court the urgent need for someone to step in and take the reins.

His job will be to temporarily protect the assets of the company but his first priority will be to renew lapsed dance and liquor licences ahead of tomorrow's wedding party .

That is the first of 75 weddings currently on the books and the court was told that just one cancellation would result in a haemorrhage of business.

Ulster Bank made the move against the insolvent hotel because it is €290,000 overdrawn.

Ballykisteen is a four star operation with 36 bedrooms and 45 self catering lodges.

It employs around 80 people.