Lake County Hotel
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| Lake County Hotel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names | Club Hotel |
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel |
| Address | 14 Pearse Street |
| Town or city | Mullingar |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°31′33.787″N 7°20′21.844″W / 53.52605194°N 7.33940111°W |
| Opened | 25 February 1965 |
| Closed | 15 July 2006 |
Lake County Hotel (formerly Club Hotel) was a hotel in Mullingar, Westmeath, Ireland.[1] In the 1970s, the hotel marketed itself as "Ireland's only twin ballroom dancing venue".[2]
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
The hotel was originally known as the Club Hotel and opened prior to 1929.[3] Christopher Crowley, the former proprietor, died on 26 October 1960 at the age of 79.[4] The hotel was then auctioned on 18 May 1961 as the previous owner's children were retiring from the business.[5]
Lake County Hotel Limited was registered as a company on 16 February 1962 by brothers Patrick and James Fagan, the new owners of the hotel.[6] The official grand opening gala dinner dance was held on 25 February 1965.[7]
In July 1968, a new lounge area adjacent to the ballroom was opened.[8] By 1977, the hotel stopped providing accommodation which meant a loss of 27 hotels beds in the town.[9] This also resulted in the name change to just the Lake County in later years.
Renovations and closure[edit]
In July 2006, it was announced by proprietor Paul Fagan (coming as a "significant blow" to staff) that the premises was to close for at least 12 months to allow renovations to take place.[10]
By May 2009, a planning application was submitted to Westmeath County Council to change the use of 96 square metres (1,030 sq ft) of first floor storage space to a nightclub and to retain two new firewells as well as elevational changes on the second floor.[11] Following Paul Fagan's death in October 2010, the hotel never reopened.[12][13]
In October 2018, Insomnia Coffee opened up in the former hotel premises.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ "14 Pearse Street, Mullingar, Westmeath". Buildings of Ireland. 7 July 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Lake County Hotel". Westmeath Examiner. 25 May 1974. p. 7. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Wedding bells at Mullingar". Westmeath Examiner. 12 January 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Irish Genealogy" (PDF). civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Highly important and attractive sale: the Club Hotel, Mullingar". Westmeath Examiner. 29 April 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Lake County Hotel Limited - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Gala re-opening night for Lake County Hotel, Mullingar". Westmeath Examiner. 20 February 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Further expansion of Lake County Hotel, Mullingar". Westmeath Examiner. 27 July 1968. p. 7. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "New Mullingar Hotel - the opening is there says Tourism Board". Westmeath Topic. 30 June 1977. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-01-01 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Lake County announces shock closure". Westmeath Examiner. 15 July 2006. p. 2. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Westmeath planning details". Westmeath Examiner. 9 May 2009. p. 17. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "FAGAN, Paul : Death". Irish Times Family Notices. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Greatly regretted passing of Paul Fagan". Westmeath Topic. 4 November 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Insomnia to open in Mullingar". Westmeath Examiner. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 29 December 2023.