Award-winning family-owned Ballygarry House Hotel celebrates 60 years of Irish hospitality
THE Award-winning Ballygarry House, a luxurious Four-star country house hotel in Tralee, is this year celebrating its Diamond Jubilee and 60 years of continuous business under the ownership and guidance of three generations of the McGillicuddy family.
The hotel ,originally an 18th century landlord’s house, was acquired and extended into a hotel in 1958 by Gene McGillicuddy and two other Tralee business people. The hotel was named the Manhattan Hotel. During the 1960 and 1970s the Manhattan Hotel was one of the best loved venues in Kerry for weddings, family celebrations, dances and other social occasions.
In 1968, on his return from training abroad, second generation Owen McGillicuddy took over as General Manager. In 1982, the hotel returned to its roots when it was renamed Ballygarry House Hotel following extensive investment. Over the decades and under the management and continual reinvestment by the McGillicuddy family, Ballygarry House Hotel evolved and continued to grow into the exceptional hotel that it is today.
Third generation Padraig McGillicuddy joined Ballygarry House Hotel in 2001 and took over its management in 2003. Between 2005 and 2017, Padraig had the vision and the courage during recessionary years to oversee an investment in the business of €12.9million and tripled the size of the hotel.
Padraig leads and is supported by a team of enthusiastic and dedicated professionals who share his vision and deliver a seamless guest experience. Every guest is individually and warmly greeted and welcomed by the staff, some of whom at 2nd and 3rd generation themselves working at Ballygarry.
60 years of continuous business, through challenging times, is a tribute to the investment and reinvestment undertaken by three generations of the McGillicuddy family in the hotel, its facilities and, most importantly, in the staff at Ballygarry.
“Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa is my passion”, said Padraig. “Hospitality is an integral part of our heritage and is ingrained our DNA. I am very proud of the family commitment over 60 years and our passionate pursuit of excellence. The hotel has evolved through the generations and has really become an institution for all who visit and work here.”