Doors stay open as banks move on Glenlo Abbey Hotel

Couples who have booked their wedding reception at the five-star Glenlo Abbey Hotel have been told their big day will be unaffected…

Couples who have booked their wedding reception at the five-star Glenlo Abbey Hotel have been told their big day will be unaffected by the hotel going into receivership.

The luxury 46-bedroom hotel located on a 138-acre estate overlooking Lough Corrib, 4km from Galway city centre, is one of the best-known luxury hotels in the west of Ireland.

The company’s failure to sell off lands to address its €8 million debt to Bank of Scotland has resulted in the bank appointing Aengus Burns and Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton as receivers to the Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Mr Burns said yesterday it was “business as usual” at the hotel, adding a significant number of weddings had been booked at the hotel this year.

The hotel has played host to former president Mary McAleese and the then first lady of the US, Hillary Clinton. The company’s bank loans are secured by a legal charge in favour of Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Ltd over the company’s property at Bushypark, Galway, and a floating charge over the remaining assets of the company.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times