Former hotel transformed

Date Published: 08-Feb-2008

The former Ibis Hotel off the Headford Road in the city has been transformed to a hostel with bed spaces for up to 250 asylum seekers.

The property was purchased by the owners of the adjoining Barry Motors last December for an undisclosed sum, although property experts in the city believe the site to be worth between €7m and €12m.

The hotel — now known as Lisbrook House — took in its first residents on Tuesday.

The Department of Justice’s Reception and Integration Agency has signed a three year deal with Mullingar-based Bridgestock Ltd. to run the property as a hostel until January 31, 2011.

The 100-bedroom Ibis hotel closed its doors last August after more than 10 years in operation. It was originally set up as a Holiday Inn hotel in 1996.

At the time of the closure, the Department of Justice denied rumours that it was set to become a hostel for refugees.

Bridgestock is now……….