Construction BUSINESS

International hotel management company, The PREM Group, are preparing to enter the final phase of a major €6.5 million redevelopment of their latest acquisition, Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney. Purchased by the PREM Group in 2016, Cahernane House Hotel has undergone extensive renovations over the past 18 months in a bid to return the luxury mansion house to its former glory, though the work has been carried out with a sympathetic eye on keeping many of the original styles of the house.

The latest part of the project, estimated at a cost of €3 million, will result in a major refurbishment of all 26 rooms in the Garden Wing, while the Cellar Bar and lobby will also receive complete makeovers. The doors of the 4-Star fine manor house hotel will be closed throughout January and March to allow for the renovations.

The initial phases of work carried out by the PREM Group began almost immediately after their purchase of the property, and this involved putting on a new roof, replacing all mechanical and electrical installations and complying with fire and safety regulations throughout. Interior designers with an expertise in historical features and structures were brought in as part of the redesign, and many of the eye-catching parts of the house, such as the original sash windows, were painstakingly restored and given a new lease of life.

The Manor House – the most luxurious part of Cahernane House Hotel – was restored in phase two as all 12 rooms were refurbished and the Herbert Room restaurant was brought up to a high-class standard.

Along with all of the work on the original parts of Cahernane House Hotel, an application has recently been lodged to Kerry County Council for planning permission to build an additional 22 bedrooms and more public spaces, including an Orangery.

The redevelopment of the property is aimed at attracting clientele from the wedding, incentive and special occasion markets, while the presence of a two AA Rosette winning restaurant ensures that visitors to the hotel enjoy the finest cuisine served up by Executive Head Chef Eric Kavanagh. The work is expected to be completed by early March when Cahernane House Hotel will reopen its doors for the summer season.

Emer Corridan, General Manager of Cahernane House Hotel, said: “We’re really excited to see how the hotel looks once it is finished, because the work that has been carried out so far has been nothing short of exceptional. We have had a busy 18 months since the PREM Group acquired the hotel, but they have breathed new life into what was a beautiful historical building that had been falling into disrepair. Everything from the work on the bedrooms to the redesign of the restaurant has been carried out to the highest standards, and the feedback that we’ve received from guests has been very positive. I’m sure that once we open the doors in early March that this will be recognised as one of Ireland’s finest hotels, and it won’t just be a hidden gem anymore.”

The renovations at Cahernane House Hotel is just the latest major project being carried out by the PREM Group, who also operate more than 45 properties throughout Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the UK. They are currently undertaking a €3 million renovation project at the Osprey Hotel in Naas, where the spa, gym and restaurant have all been redesigned, and a new block of bedrooms are on the way after planning permission was granted by Kildare County Council in September.