Image source: RIP.ie
The death has occurred of Peter Huggard who was a legendary personality in Kerry tourism and one of the best-known and most popular hoteliers in the country, having operated the Butler Arms in Waterville for many years.
The proud history of the extended Huggard family’s involvement in Ireland’s hospitality trade can be traced back well over 100 years when Peter’s grandfather, Martin Huggard, an enterprising farmer and fisherman, operated the 28-bedroom Bay View Hotel, overlooking the sea at Waterville. In 1912, Martin married Wicklow native, Mary Doyle, and, from a business perspective, it was a match made in heaven given the expertise she had acquired through her time with Great Southern Hotels.
Possessing an impressive business acumen, they acquired the 60-bedroom Butler Arms Hotel in 1917 and they quickly earned an international reputation for excellence that helped attract high-profile guests of the calibre of screen icon Charlie Chaplin and his family, the late great Walt Disney, Sir Alec Guinness and Hollywood star Shirley MacLaine.
The Butler Arms Hotel was later operated by Martin and Mary’s son, Noel and his wife Angela, before their own son, Peter, and his wife, Mary, took over the much-loved business with the close involvement of their daughters.
Over the years the extended Huggard family’s hotel interests expanded to include Caragh Lake Hotel near Killorglin, the Royal Hotel on Valentia Island, Ashford Castle in Connemara, the Lake Hotel in Killarney, the 18th century Ballinahinch Castle Hotel in Connemara and Reenroe Hotel in Ballinskelligs.
Throughout his career in tourism, Peter encouraged and inspired many young hospitality graduates and was considered a true ambassador for the industry.
A keen golfer and considered a thorough gentleman, Peter passed away, peacefully at home, on Monday.
He is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Louise, Jenny and Paula, sons-in-law Aidan, Craig and Paul, and grandchildren Mary, Sally, Vivienne, Charlie, Andrea, Casey, Rory and Darragh.
Peter is further survived by his brother Patrick, sisters Paula and Veronica and extended family. Reposing at the Butler Arms Hotel this Wednesday from 5.00pm to 7.00pm, the funeral Mass will be on Thursday at 11.00am in St Finian’s Church, Waterville followed by Burial in St Finian’s Cemetery, Waterville.
The Requiem Mass will be streamed on https://www.churchservices.tv/waterville.
