A NUMBER of prominent Killarney business families, who have operated thriving hotels for more than one generation, have been honoured at the annual ball of the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels Federation.
Those recognised for their contribution to tourism and the development of Killarney included the O’Donoghue family of the Gleneagle Hotel Group, the Huggard family of the Lake Hotel, the Buckley family of the Arbutus Hotel, the O’Callaghan family of the Failte Hotel, the Foley family of Foley’s Townhouse, the Murphy family of Murphy’s Bar and Guesthouse, the McSweeney family of the McSweeney Arms, the Scally family of the Royal and Malton Hotels and the Treacy family of the Ross and Killarney Park.
Also honoured at Thursday night’s gala occasion were the hosts of this year’s IHS ball, the Randles family of the Dromhall and Randles Court Hotels, who are celebrating 50 years in the hotel business.
The stylish black tie ball, billed as the social highlight of the year in Kerry, attracted a capacity attendance to the Dromhall Hotel where the guests of honour were Diaspora Minister Jimmy Deenihan, Mayor of Killarney Cllr John Joe Culloty and his wife Mary, and Mayor of Kerry Cllr John Brassil.
The MC for the evening was Geraldine Rosney of the Killeen House Hotel and top table guests included Irish Hotels Federation chief executive Tim Fenn, IHF President Stephen McNally and Kerry IHF chief Sean O’Driscoll.
* Pictures: Don MacMonagle. Click on images to enlarge and for information
