Work begins on Portumna hotel four years on from fire

Work has commenced on the site of the Shannon Oaks Hotel in Portumna, which burned down four and a half years ago – and there are hopes that it could be reopened in April of next year.

The loss of the hotel is estimated to have cost the town around €2.5 million in lost tourism revenue – and that is why the entire business community will be delighted to see it reopening.

Local TD Anne Rabbitte said that it was a credit to the businesses for surviving through this difficult period and she hoped that when the hotel is reopened, it would be well supported.

This week saw machinery removing rubble from inside the burnt-out shell of the Shannon Oaks, now owned by the Comer brothers, Luke and Brian, the well-known property developers originally from Glenamaddy.

Deputy Rabbitte said that work on the hotel coincides with a €380,000 development at the marina which is nearing completion.

“There is a lot happening in Portumna at the moment and it is all very positive for the town and surrounding area”, she added.

There are cottages attached to the hotel and when these were vacated last November, it became apparent that there was some movement on the sale of the property.

The fact that Portumna is on the shores of Lough Derg means that it attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually but the fact that there hasn’t been hotel facilities in the town for such a lengthy period has impacted on tourist spend.

Since the sale of the hotel was completed in January, the new owners have visited Portumna and now Deputy Rabbitte is anxious to meet up with them and offer them any support that she can. She said that it was a huge boost for the town that the new owners have decided to rebuild the hotel.