Harry's back in Kinnegad

Harry’s is coming back to Kinnegad this weekend, as the former Hilamar Hotel reopens eight months after the premises ceased trading.

“We’re going back to the name ‘Harry’s’, because that was always associated with Kinnegad,” says Alan Jenkins, manager of Harry’s which has taken on a staff of 20 full-timers in advance of the relaunch.

The business will, he adds, be going “back to basics”, and focusing on what Harry’s was always known for: good food, good value, good music, and good fun.

The Hilamar Hotel, which cost an estimated €10m to build and develop in the mid-2000s, was sold at an Allsopp’s auction in Dublin in October for the knockdown price of €695,000, just weeks after the doors had closed, with the loss of around just four jobs.

Since then, the new owners have carried out a major investment programme at the hotel in preparation for the relaunch of Harry’s.

“The whole hotel has been revamped and refurbished and refinished to a high standard,” says Alan.