Former Fianna Fáil senator Donie Cassidy’s Cassidy Hotel Group has acquired Barry’s Hotel in Dublin city centre for about €8 million.
While the hotel will be familiar to generations of Dubliners and visitors alike, for Cassidy it’s a case of renewing his direct association with the property, which for many years, had formed part of his Dublin hotel portfolio, and served as the venue for what became known as “nurses’ dances”.
The sale of the Great Denmark Street landmark is understood to have delivered a significant return for its vendor, a private investor. The hotel was last sold in 2013 for about €1 million.
Built originally at Lord Tullamore’s Townhouse in 1780, the property was converted into a hotel in 1889, and has continued to trade as one ever since.
GAA fans
Barry’s Hotel has had an eventful history, including its part in both the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence. In the dance and cabaret era of the 1950s until the 1980s, its ballroom hosted Irish showbands, country dances and numerous international performers including Donovan, members of The Rolling Stones and U2. The hotel is well-known to GAA fans thanks to its close proximity to Croke Park.
While the townhouse premises has 33 guestrooms currently, there is existing planning permission to develop a 32-room extension to the rear of the property.
The Cassidy Hotel Group was advised on the purchase of Barry’s Hotel by CBRE, while JLL advised the vendor. Both agents declined to comment on the deal when contacted by The Irish Times.
