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A long-established West Cork hotel on the Wild Atlantic Way has been sold to a US hospitality investor, CBRE Hotels has confirmed. The Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff was marketed with a guide price of €4 million before the transaction to Brian Patrick Martin was completed.
Historic property with deep roots
Operating since 1745, the Eccles Hotel is listed among Ireland’s older hotels. It sits in Glengarriff, roughly 90 kilometres from Cork city and within easy reach of Kenmare in County Kerry, a location that attracts tourists exploring the southwest coast.
Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff, West Cork, changes hands
Inside Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands: where history meets luxury
Across the decades the hotel has drawn notable guests. George Bernard Shaw is recorded to have stayed in 1910–11 and is said to have done considerable writing while in residence. The poet W.B. Yeats was also a regular visitor during the 1920s. More recently, in July 2017, Pippa Middleton stayed at the hotel to attend a wedding in Glengarriff.
Refurbishment and facilities
CBRE said the property has undergone careful refurbishment to preserve its character while updating guest accommodation. The hotel now offers a mix of modern amenities alongside its historic features.
- 59 refurbished bedrooms and suites
- Conference and banqueting spaces
- A spa with three treatment rooms
- On-site restaurant, bar and wedding facilities
Recent investment focused on bedroom upgrades and new bathrooms throughout the property, work CBRE described as sympathetic to the hotel’s character.
New ownership and prospects
John Hughes, director at CBRE Hotels, described the sale as a strong opportunity to acquire one of Ireland’s oldest hotels in a sought-after West Cork location on the Wild Atlantic Way. He noted the refurbishment and said the property gives its new owner scope to develop the business further.
Beyond its historical associations, the Eccles Hotel’s combination of character accommodation and event facilities underpins its continuing appeal to visitors to the southwest coast.
