The Brehon Killarney Wins Radio Kerry’s Kerry Business Tourism & Hospitality Award For March

The Brehon, Killarney was awarded the Kerry Business Tourism &  Hospitality Award for March from Radio Kerry on Thursday 24^th April 2013.

Gary Curran, General Manager The Brehon attended the Presentation & Luncheon at Radio Kerry Tralee.

Radio Kerry asked businesses to nominate their company for the Kerry Business Awards. Each month an independent Judging Panel chooses a company to win the award. The awards recognise the company’s achievements and contribution to business in the county.

The monthly awards will culminate in The Kerry Business Awards Gala Black Tie Ball in March 2014.

“We are thrilled to win this award and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire staff and management of The Brehon.” said General Manager, Gary Curran.

The Brehon opened its doors in 2004 and since then has gone from strength to strength winning numerous awards over the year including Best Business Hotel and culminating in winning Gold at the Irish Accommodation Service Institute Awards (IASI) in January of this year.

The Brehon Laws

Welcome to The Brehon Killarney

Let us amaze you

By custom and culture, the Irish are a hospitable people. Visitors to Ireland happily testify to the warmth of the welcome. But not many realise it is a culture enshrined in ancient Irish law.

The Brehon Laws governed the ancient society of Erin in the days when an emerging Roman Empire sought to civilise mainland Europe. Under Brehon Law, it was an obligation to offer hospitality to anyone who happened upon your dwelling place. But few regarded it as an obligation; they felt it was a privilege to offer a roof, sustenance, warmth and a welcome.

My family’s ancestors were among the first to embrace those laws. We are proud to adhere to them still – and to give expression to that great tradition in a Hotel where we blend the best of the old and the new under the banner that proclaims our heritage.

The Brehon represents the pinnacle of our experience – and our pride. It is the welcome that the O’Donoghue Family have extended for generations.

It gives me great pleasure to bestow this welcome to you – Céad Míle Fáilte.

I sincerely hope you enjoy your stay with us and thank you once again for choosing The Brehon, Killarney.

Mr. Patrick O’Donoghue

Managing Director

                                                                                                                                   

Welcome

I wish to warmly welcome you to The Brehon. I trust you will have a most enjoyable stay.

At The Brehon, we offer a broad range of facilities and services, which are included in this Guest Information Directory. Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of my management Team.

Gary Curran

Hotel Manager

THE BREHON WAY

The O'Donoghues are a family whose ancestors were among the first to embrace the Brehon laws. Keeping true to the essence of those laws on hospitality - they welcome you to celebrate with them The Brehon Experience. 

The Brehon Laws Brehon Laws were civil laws that governed everyday life in the 15th Century and were concerned with payment of compensation for harm done and the regulation of property, inheritance and contracts. The name Brehon comes from the Irish word for 'Judge'  Passed on orally from at least the first century BC the Brehon Laws, named for Ireland's wandering jurists, were first set down on parchment in the seventh century AD, using the newly-developed, written Irish Language, and continued in use until the beginning of the seventeenth century.

The Brehon Way programme ensure both Management and Staff here in the Hotel embrace the Brehon Laws to enhance your customer experience. The Story of our Logo The Salmon depicted in The Brehon logo represents the Salmon of knowledge - from Irish Mythology. The story goes that the poet Fiegas spent 7 years fishing for this salmon, because he knew if he caught it and ate its flesh he would have all the knowledge in the world. When he caught it he asked his young apprentice Fionn to cook it. As he cooked it Fionn burned his thumb and sucked it to relieve the pain. When Fionn gave the cooked fish to his boss, Fiegas saw from the light in Fionn's eyes that he had gained all the knowledge and wisdom of the salmon. Fionn later became the leader of the Fianna famed heros of Irish myth.  The Story of Danú In Irish mythology, Danú is the mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann Old Irish: "The peoples of the goddess Danú "). Though primarily seen as an ancestral figure, some Victorian sources also associate her with the land. Danú was considered as the mythic mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Celtic tribes that first invaded Ireland. Indeed, the Thuata Dé were the descendants of the goddess Danú, and in some local instances, the ruler of the otherworld was a goddess, rather than a god, just as some folktales represented the otherworld as 'the Land of Women'. Danú may be connected with Bridget, daughter of Kildare and of learning, culture and skills.

10 Things to Do in Killarney in The Rain

This summer is officially a wash-out.  I don't know if the rain is ever going to stop.  In fact, I feel like Noah & I'm going to build an ark.  But do you know what, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!  Here is my list of 10 things to do in Killarney even though it’s bucketing down.

1.       Get those kids out from under your feet & get them into the free Kids Club in our sister hotel, The Gleneagle.  There they can do arts & crafts, parachute games, egg & spoon races, or play on the bouncy castle.

2.       Bored teenagers? Try the Teen Zone at The Gleneagle Hotel, again open to our guests. They can hang out with teenagers their own age and lounge around on bean bags playing computer games, play table football, go on cinema trips, indoor soccer & hockey, quiz nights & basically scuff someone else’s furniture that is not yours!

3.       Can’t get out for that walk? Killarney has so much indoor activities it’s amazing.  Try rock climbing at Play at the Height, swim in the 25 metre pool or try a spinning class at the Gleneagle next door or burn off some energy in our Gym.

4.       Get under that duvet, turn on our block buster movies & order up popcorn, Pringles & chocolates from our room service & chillax. It’s a known fact that calories consumed whilst under a duvet do not exist.  Really!

5.       Book a couple's massage & unwind in our spa.  Gorge on tropical fruits, sip ginger tea & enjoy bubble bliss in our Jacuzzi. It may not have the suns of Thailand but it is a taste of Thailand.

6.       Get shopping! Killarney Outlet Centre has loads of shops all under cover & with our discount voucher book you can save loads.  Killarney has a ginourmous Tesco’s, Marks and Sparks, Boots, Dorothy Perkins, New Look & much more & you will only get wet going from your car to the threshold.  It’s do-able.

7.       Hoist yourself up on a bar seat in The Brehon Bar & sample our cocktail menu.  Start with a mojito, swing by a cosmopolitan & end with The Brehon Cocktail. The rain might not have stopped but by the end of that you won’t know it’s raining.

8.       Killarney is steeped in history.  Muckross House welcomed Queen Victoria in 1861 to stay & Ross Castle was built in the 15^th century & you can do a guided tour of both for a small pittance.  And guess what, both these places have roofs!

9.       Pretend to be posh & order our scrumptious afternoon tea.  Curl up by our open fires, get a good book (I have heard 50 Shades of Grey is good!) and feast on mini desserts, yummy sandwiches & tasty bites.  Jolly good ol’ chap!

10.   Lastly, buy a rain jacket & get out there.  We have a National Park on our doorstep & we hide from drops of rain.  No one can melt in the rain.  We are rust proof.  So don that coat & go see Torc Waterfall, The Gap of Dunloe or the Lakes of Killarney!

Audi Cork Team Up with The Brehon and INEC, Killarney

The Brehon in Killarney welcomed a super stylish guest this week, a brand new Audi A7 has checked in for the forthcoming year as part of a new partnership deal between Ireland’s leading four-star hotel and Audi Cork.

The car will have a busy year transporting the hotels numerous VIPs and International stars to and from the hotel.

“We regularly welcome national and international celebrities to The Brehon whether they are performing in the neighbouring INEC, attending a conference or simply enjoying a well earned holiday in Killarney. Thanks to Audi Cork we can now give them that extra sense of luxury,” says Regional General Manager at The Brehon, Donagh Davern.  

 “Following a restructure of the Audi network in Ireland, we at Audi Cork have a responsibility to develop the brand within the Kerry region and believed the best way to achieve is to partner with a well known and extremely reputable company such as the INEC and The Brehon. We are delighted with this partnership, the opportunity to showcase the Audi models and the synergy that exists within our two brands.” Says Brian Quinlan, General Sales Manager, Audi Cork.

The INEC is gearing up for its best summer ever with the news that the INEC Brand Ambassador Programme is also to receive two stylish Audi A1s as part of the Audi partnership. The brand new cars will be mobilised to travel the length and breadth of Munster promoting the upcoming INEC events including Bohemian Rhapsody, Dancing Queen and Lord of the Dance so look out for them coming to your town over the summer months.

Donagh Davern Appointed Regional General Manager Of The Gleneagle Group

Donagh Davern Appointed Regional General Manager

Of The Gleneagle Group

The Gleneagle Group, based in Killarney, has announced the appointment of Donagh Davern to the role of Regional General Manager. Donagh will be responsible for a number of properties within the group, including The Brehon, and will join the group’s Senior Management Team.

Donagh has over 20 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, most recently in Cork, where he was Chairman of the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation.

He has been responsible for a number of prestige properties including The Kingsley Hotel Group, The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort and The Killarney Park Hotel.

“I am thrilled to be joining The Gleneagle Group. My entire career has been spent in the hospitality industry and I look forward to continuing this tradition by providing ‘best in class’ services to The Gleneagle Group’s current and future customers,” says Donagh.

The Gleneagle Group represents a selection of Ireland’s best known and most highly regarded hotel, entertainment and holiday destinations including The Gleneagle Hotel and Apartments, The INEC, The Brehon, Scotts Hotel and The Travel Inn in Killarney as well as The Maritime Hotel in Bantry.

 “We are very excited to welcome Donagh to the Group,” says Patrick O’Donoghue, Managing Director of The Gleneagle Group. “Not only will he bring a tighter focus to customer service, but will also will be a great role model for our employees and further strengthen the relationship with all our stakeholders.”