Two hotel sales save 180 jobs

More than 180 hotel jobs in Tipperary and Cork have been secured with the sales of two well-known county hotels, The Anner, in Thurles, and the Midleton Park Hotel, in Cork.

They made over €4m, combined, via agents Denis O’Donoghue and Tom Barrett, of Savills. Selling for more than its €1.1m price was the 95-bed Anner Hotel, on the edge of Thurles, bought by local Thurles and Cashel family, the Mahers, from receivers Padraic Monaghan and Kieran Wallace, KPMG, after going to competitive tender. Brothers Michael, PJ and Seamus Maher signed contracts last week for the hotel, which only went to market in mid-January.

“There was a very strong level of interest, both locally and nationally, for the iconic property, built about 50 years ago,” said Mr O’Donoghue. The Anner has seven conference rooms, a function room for 250 guests, and leisure centre with 18m pool, which opened in 1998. The purchase secures 60 jobs and the Mahers have plans for refurbishment.