New dawn for Park Hotel
December 30, 2009Formerly known as the Park Inn, the re-launch of the all-new Park Hotel was one of the most exciting events to take place in Dundalk in 2009.
Under new management, this stylish, modern hotel has received rave reviews since its re-branding earlier this year. With panoramic views of the Cooley Mountains, its own 18-hole golf course and a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, the Park Hotel has everything a guest could ask for.
Located within easy reach of the M1 motorway and Dundalk town centre, and midway between Dublin and Belfast, the Park Hotel is equally popular with locals and guests alike.
The hotel boasts 84 rooms and superb leisure facilities, including the par-72 Carnbeg Golf Course which is due to receive a major upgrade in the near future. The health and leisure centre consists of a gymnasium and a separate weights room, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, while outside, there are six 5-a-side football pitches. Recently, a new rejuvenation suite was added to the hotel's list of facilities.
Elegant and contemporary, the spacious and modern en suite rooms have spectacular views of the Carnbeg Golf Course and the Cooley Mountains. The mountains also form the backdrop to the Majors Restaurant, which offers both Irish and international cuisine.
Guests and locals can always be assured of a warm, friendly and professional service. In short, the Park Hotel is the ideal hotel to mix business with pleasure.
Welcoming the hotel's re-branding, general manager Caroline McCoy says: "These are exciting times for everyone associated with the Park Hotel. The new owner, Robert Lyne, is eager to ensure that the hotel continues to go from strength to strength.
"The takeover has created a stability and dispelled all the myths there had been about the hotel's future. Our staff numbers have been unaffected, which is a great thing to be able to say in these uncertain times."
While the hospitality sector has been particularly hard hit by the recession, Caroline is confident that the Park Hotel will come through it unscathed.
"If we can maintain our standards and competitive rates, there is no reason why we can't come through this," the Ardee native says.
"An upside to the recession is that it is becoming increasingly popular for people to holiday in Ireland. There are some fantastic deals out there, which people are availing of. We are always offering family, weekend and group deals. The group deals are very popular given our close proximity to Dundalk Stadium, which attracts lots of hen and stag parties."
Ireland's only all-weather racetrack, Dundalk Stadium caters for both horseracing and greyhound racing.
She adds: "It has been brilliant for Dundalk; it has made the town an even more attractive destination for visitors. It has brought a lot of money into the local economy and we have definitely benefited from it."
The Park Hotel's health and leisure facilities are particularly suited to GAA players who want to improve their fitness levels.
"We're gearing our facilities more and more towards the GAA market," explains Caroline..
"Our facilities are available all-year round to GAA clubs and players at the keenest rates.. There is a massive interest in the GAA in Louth and there are a huge number of clubs located within a 10-mile radius of us. Our facilities are also easily accessible to clubs in South Armagh.
"GAA players interested in joining our health and fitness club can contact Dave for more information."
Incorporating the natural beauty of the surrounding landscapes, the Carnbeg Golf Course was designed by the renowned team of Eddie Hackett and Tom Craddock. This jewel in the north east is housed against a spectacular setting with the Cooley Peninsula providing a dramatic backdrop. This is an 18-hole course that challenges golfers of all levels and has a par 72.
Caroline takes a keen interest in the GAA. All of her family are dyed-in-the-wool St. Mary's, Ardee supporters which is hardly surprisingly given that her brothers Shane and Barry played for the team from U10 to senior level, her father Vinny kept goal for the club for many years. Her grandfather Patsy McCoy also played for the Mary's in the 1950s.
"Mary's born and bred" she proudly states. "I also have my cousin Maria Bannon who is an up and coming star of the Stabannon Parnells ladies football team who won their first county title recently."
While 2009 won't go down as one of Louth's better years, outgoing manager Eamonn McEneaney could still take a degree of satisfaction from winning the O'Byrne Cup and the Leinster junior title - the county's first adult provincial championship honour in 43 years.
The O'Byrne Cup victory at the start of the year raised expectations for an extended championship run but, after struggling past Carlow in their Leinster opener, Louth bowed out at the hands of Laois. Further disappointment followed when they lost to Tipperary by a point in the All-Ireland qualifers - a defeat which ultimately brought the curtain down on Eamonn McEneaney's reign after four years.
"They'll be disappointed that they didn't build on their great start to the year, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
"Hopefully, 2010 will bring them better fortune. There is plenty of talent in Louth - it's just a matter of gelling it all together. There is tremendous work being done at grassroots and underage level, and the new Centre of Excellence in Darver reflects the county board's ambition to build a successful county team in the years ahead," she concludes. Tweet
