Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Weekend Hotspot – Skylon Hotel Dublin - Brian Mc Eniff Hotels
Leading hotelier & Donegal GAA stalwart Brian McEniff, chairman of the McEniff Hotel Group, recently celebrated 50 years in Irish hospitality with a conference and corporate showcase event, where he was congratulated on his success by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Pascal Donoghue TD. Built in 1969 by PV Doyle and acquired by the McEniff family in 2002, the Dublin Skylon Hotel was extensively
refurbished in 2013 and will see further development in 2016 with a €1m investment by the group in a new bar, grill, frontage, executive bedrooms and junior suites, enabling the Dublin Skylon to become a 4 Star Hotel for the first time.The recently refurbished rooms have a warm décor and feature a private bathroom with hairdryer and a lap-top size safe. Guests can relax with a flat-screen TV with news and movie channels and free tea and coffee in the room. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The Rendezvous Restaurant serves French and Irish cuisine, whilst the Cosmopolitan Bar
n Executive King Room - Skylon Hotel Dublin.
has a bar menu, light snacks and a variety of beverages. The Skylon Bar and Grill is a split-level bar traditionally designed to provide an intimate and cosy atmosphere. The Skylon Hotel is just 15 minutes’ drive from Dublin Airport. The city centre is a 5-minute drive, and Croke Park Stadium is 10 minutes’ walk. The helpful reception team offers the latest on what to do and see with a long list of suggestions including Guinness Storehouse, Dublinia, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar and the Abercrombie & Fitch store on Dawson Street. A shuttle bus service is available to and from the Skylon Hotel to the airport, O2 arena, and Aviva Stadium. The family owned and operated hotel group has enjoyed continued growth since the first hotel, the Holyrood Hotel in Bundoran, was bought by Brian’s father in 1951 and now employs over 600 people. The group comprises 5 hotels on the Wild Atlantic Way – the Great Northern Hotel, Holyrood Hotel, Great Southern Hotel Sligo, Yeats Country Hotel Sligo and the Best Western Westport Woods Hotel –
(074) 9131018
www.keeshotel.ie
and the renowned Best Western Dublin Skylon Hotel in Drumcondra. Born in Bundoran , Brian’s parents were John McEniff from Newbliss, Monaghan and Elizabeth Begley from Carrickmore, Tyrone. In 1962 he went to Canada to gain valuable work experience, and worked for four years in the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. It was there that he met and married n Irish Tourism M Catherine O’Leary, inister Pascal Chairman Mc a Cork native, and Donoghue Eniff Hotel Gr oup and Mario pictured with Brian McEniff M ar they went on to keting Manag n Fitzpgerald er Group Sales an have ten children, d all of whom are involved in the running of the hotels. McEniff returned to celebrated “Young at Heart” Ireland in 1966 to join the programme one of the most family business and got in- successful activities of the volved in the Donegal GAA, group’s business offer. Over playing at county level for 50s Holiday Coordinator and Donegal. McEniff’s manage- Ocean FM’s most popular www.brianmceniffhotels. ment success in Gaelic games radio presenter Marion Fit- com culminated when he led his zgerald will assist with all the Robert Walshe is a travel native Donegal team to glory arrangements, from arrival over Dublin at Croke Park in dates to compiling a full pro- broadcaster with Q Radio the 1992 All Ireland Senior gramme for your stay to re- Network and Travel Editor Football Final. Brian McEniff flect all interests and needs. for River Media newspaper Hotel Group also brings sixty For best rates at the Skylon titles across the island of five years of experience to Dublin or any of the Brian Mc Ireland. www.robertwgolden year guests with their Eniff hotel group properties. alshe.com