Jobs boost at €3.5M extension at Hotel Kilmore complete
The major €3.5m extension to the Hotel Kilmore has now been completed and 30 new jobs created, bringing the total workforce at the Dublin Road complex to over 100.
“When we purchased this hotel, our wage bill was around €600,000 six years ago and it is now €1.9m per year, substantial money going back into the local economy of Cavan,” proud hotel owner Ross Mealiff told the Celt last week.
The new extension incorporates 36 bedrooms, function rooms, a fully-equipped gym and a palatial board room. Already, bookings for events have already flooded in for 2017 and even 2018.
The hotel now boosts 74 bedrooms, featuring a new bridal suite; the new Brackley Suite, which incorporates a meeting room/reception area and the Castletara Suite, which is another new meeting room.
The new board room facility with oval table is fitted with the most modern IT equipment and there is projector screens in all the meeting rooms. Total investment in the hotel by the Mealiffs since they purchased the property in 2005 now stands at €6M. The entire hotel, which was first built 38 years ago, has been refurbished, rewired and re-plumbed.
Proprietors, Ross and Kate Mealiff, are delighted with the new extension and are confident that the modern facilities will draw new business to the hotel and Cavan Town generally.
Mr Mealiff complimented architect Michael Fitzpatrick for the vision and creativity he brought to the design of the new wing and how it flows seamlessly with the existing hotel complex. They also had detailed input from interior designer Philip Rodgers from Dungannon.
The work was carried out to an exceptionally high standard by Sean McKiernan and his team from S&A Construction. A very high percentage of the materials used in the new complex were sourced locally where possible which created additional financial spin-off for the local economy.
Local specialist contractors carried out various works including the plumbing by Lawrence Mechanical, electrical work by NCE - Neil Cosgrove and his team and Brackley Landscape Gardens did the landscaping. Peter Reilly and Sean Wall, KSN were the quantity surveyors.
Hardware Supplies were sourced in Hyland Hardware in Ballyhaise, the paint from Tractamotors, doors from Bartley Doors and Gerry McPhillips provided the plumbing fittings and the televisions were sourced in Harry’s Electrical World. The curtains supplied by House of Fabric and blinds by Alan Garland.
Attraction
The hotel is already a well established wedding venue and Kate Mealiff says the additional bedrooms will greatly enhance the accommodation offering for weddings.
“One of the major components of the new build is the expansive bridal suite. It is a fabulous three-roomed apartment and is an extra special facility for couples on the night of their wedding,” said Ms Mealiff. “We now also have a number of family rooms, which can hold up to five guests and we have a number of interconnecting rooms, which can also accommodate families,” she added.
Booked out
Ms Mealiff says they are proud of their excellent staff and management team.
The hotel is booked out for New Year’s Eve and will be targeting the mid-week break market in 2017 and showcasing their product offering.
Paul Henry, hotel manager has been in the Kilmore for 26 years says the feedback already to the new facilities is fantastic.
The Mealiff family have shown a real vote of confidence in the future of Cavan Town with their latest investment and Mr Mealiff, who is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, is confident the town has a bright future.
“'This is Cavan’ is a very good logo from a marketing point of view and if people work hard together and unite with vision, the future is bright and the Sterling factor will come and go. It is all about the product we have in our county and the town has a lot to offer,” concluded Mr Mealiff.