Westport Hotels Mayo, Mulranny Park Hotel Wesport

When the hotel re-opened its doors in February, after 15 years of closure and worsening dilapidation, it was by any standards pretty posh again. Given the elegant design of the historic building and its setting, perched on a hill facing south across Clew Bay towards Croagh Patrick, those charged with returning it to glory had something of a head-start.

The Mulranny Park Hotel now employs more than 50 full time staff, and this may rise to 70. It brings increased business to local pubs, B&Bs and the holiday homes. It is also changed the social life of the area. In the past many people from the area of west Co. Mayo from Achill into Newport would have traveled the considerable distance to Westport for weddings and other large functions.

The re-opened Mulranny Park Hotel has facilities to rival those of Westport's four-star hotels. Local pupils are also benefiting, as the village school use the gleaming new leisure centre for swimming classes.

The restoration of the hotel was entrusted to Quilligan architects of Dublin. Given that it was a protected structure, the facade is largely unchanged. Paul Quilligan says it struck him that there was something special about the building the first time he walked through the door. "Even when it was completely derelict, when you walked into those very handsome rooms, particularly the reception room, the scale and the height of them was wonderful. It felt almost that the building had a soul. There are just some buildings like that."

The restoration takes full advantage of the views. The lounge and bar, reception room, function room and new dining room all have large windows looking out over the sea.

Quilligan says he believes that one of the hotels interesting features, "as an example of man's intervention in nature", is a causeway built by the railway company a year after the hotel opened. It runs from the road in front of the hotel out to the sea, to enable guests to get directly to the beach.

His company has also designed apartments that have been built in the hotel grounds, again in the contemporary style. Guests therefore have the choice of staying in the hotel or apartments.

Mayo Hotels Special Offers & Hotel Breaks @ Mulranny Park Hotel Westport