Kelly family sells 45-bedroom award-winning Mulroy Woods Hotel in Donegal

The hotel was bought by the Kellys 10 years ago

Donal Buckley

Marty and Tricia Kelly have sold their Mulroy Woods Hotel, Milford, Co Donegal, as a going concern to an investor whose portfolio includes a number of Irish hotels.

The Kellys bought it 10 years ago when it was trading as Milford Inn as it is located just outside the town and they renamed it after the nearby Mulroy Bay.

They refurbished it and offered 45 contemporary bedrooms as well as the Oak Lounge, Harper 39’s Restaurant and the traditional ‘Wee Bar’ together with the Glashagh Suite, an elegant space to host weddings for up to 300 guests and The Mulroy Suite which can accommodate weddings and celebrations for up to 150 guests.

The hotel also offers extensive car parking.

Read more

John Hughes of selling agents CBRE declined to comment on speculation that the sale price may have been close to €3m.

Nestled among some of Donegal’s finest areas of natural beauty along the famed Wild Atlantic Way on the Fanad Peninsula, the hotel is near Mulroy Bay and Drive, the attractive scenery of Sheephaven Bay, beautiful beaches such as Port Salon along the coastline and Glenveagh National Park.

Water sports, fishing and diving can be found on Donegal Bay and Portsalon Golf course is also close by.

The hotel is located 15kms from the bustling town of Letterkenny, 50km from Derry city and is also convenient to Ramelton.

Among the awards won by the Kellys were: Wedding Hotel of The Year 2020 and 2021 and the Irish Hotel Awards 2020 and 2021.

Commenting on the sale Tricia and Marty Kelly said: “We are passing the torch of Mulroy Woods Hotel to established hoteliers with numerous hotels throughout Ireland. Through the years it was our pleasure to support local charities and schools, sponsoring cars in the Donegal International Rally and Milford GAA amongst many others, with our most recent charity night in aid of the Creeslough Community Support Fund.”

They purchased The Milford Inn 10 years ago, following its two-year period of closure, and their reopening helped inject life back into the area as the hotel is a central fixture within local community life and a central point for visitors to explore the Fanad Peninsula.

Read more