Business as usual at the Slieve Russell Hotel
Reports hotel to be put on the market for €30M - Sean Quinn says it would be "nice" to have it back
It's "business as usual" at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell, the general manager of the popular hotel has said.
The comment follows media reports that the four-star hotel is set to be put on the market early next year with a price tag of around €30M, sparking rumours locally that the Quinn family may make a play to get it back.
Speaking to the Celt, Tony Walker said: "[I would like] to clarify that the hotel is currently not on the market and that there are no immediate plans to do so in Q1 of 2024."
When eventually sold, he expects the hotel to continue performing well under new ownership.
"The hotel has been very well invested in recent years, performing very well and is a major employer in west Cavan. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service to all of our customers for many years to come," said Mr Walker.
The property was once the jewel in the crown of Sean Quinn’s hospitality empire.
The Irish Times is reporting that liquidators indicated earlier this week that the hotel, leisure facility and golf club will be put up for sale next year.
The landmark Co Cavan hotel and the Hilton Prague are the last two hospitality assets that once belonged to Sean Quinn that have yet to be sold.
A spokesperson for the hotel pointed out to the Celt that the business is trading "very well” and the hotel is “not on the market yet”.
According to The Irish Times, the liquidators of IBRC, Kieran Wallace and Eamonn Richardson of Interpath Advisory, are preparing the asset for sale in the spring of 2024.
Speaking at his book launch in the same hotel in September, Sean Quinn Snr told the Celt it would be nice for the family to get the Slieve Russell back.
"I am sure the government and a lot of people would be keen to make sure we don’t get it back but shir look it we’ll see what happens.
"If we don’t get it back, we’ll do without it. It’s something that would be nice to have but we will have to see what the next session brings."
The liquidators have been selling off the Quinn hospitality assets over the last few years, with Dublin pubs The Barge and JW Sweetman sold last year.
The Barge on the banks of Dublin’s Grand Canal sold for €3.75m; while the Mahon family, who own a number of New York pubs, bought Sweetmans near O’Connell Bridge for over €5m.
Buswells Hotel in the city was also put on the market by selling agents Savills for €22m in 2022 but has not yet been sold.
IBRC assumed control of the Slieve Russell Hotel in 2011 following the collapse of the Quinn empire, which included glass, quarrying, insurance and hospitality.