D4 to focus on Dunne hotels

Hotelier John Brennan's new hotel management operation D4 Hotels will not seek any business beyond managing the former Jurys …

Hotelier John Brennan's new hotel management operation D4 Hotels will not seek any business beyond managing the former Jurys Doyle properties that were bought by developer Séan Dunne in Dublin two years ago.

Mr Brennan is behind the D4 Hotels business that will be running the three properties in Ballsbridge, which Mr Dunne has decided to re-open while his proposals to redevelop the sites go through the planning process.

Mr Brennan, best known as manager of the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare, Co Kerry, told The Irish Timesyesterday that D4 would concentrate on running the hotels and would not be seeking other business.

Mr Dunne is a regular at the Park Hotel and knows Mr Brennan.

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Two-and-a-half months ago he contacted Mr Brennan and asked him if he would run the existing hotels, as they would otherwise have lain unused for a long period of time.

Mr Dunne is seeking to build a high-rise, mixed residential, retail and commercial development, which will include a hotel, on the site.

But some locals and city councillors are opposed to the plans in their current form.

Earlier this year, Dublin city management attempted to have the area rezoned to accommodate high-rise development, but councillors voted against the move.

Mr Brennan said yesterday that the move to reopen the two hotels was good for the city and the area.

"We're putting 600 beds back on to the market in Dublin, so it's good for Dublin tourism and it's good for the area," he said.

The hotels will be renamed the Ballsbridge Inn, Ballsbridge Court and Ballsbridge Towers.

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O’Halloran covers energy, construction, insolvency, and gaming and betting, among other areas