This article is from page 21 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
2.7 million refurbish- ment with the splendid Great Hall reopening for a glamorous summer ere CO ENTS
“This has been an extraordinary day and a wonderful way to celebrate the new-look Temple Gate,” said Paul Madden. “For several months, we have watched the builders and deco- rators transform and enlarge not only The Great Hall but also create new reception and public areas. We have also redesigned and enlarged our res- taurant which we are confident will be at the forefront of dining venues in Clare. Weddings, conferences and other events will only come to Ennis if we provide facilities and service to a high standard,” he said.
The hotel is holding a Wedding In- formation Day on Sunday, May 25, from 2pm to 7pm. The main purpose is to showcase The Great Hall as a wedding venue. Among the wedding specialists attending are Scarlett Bridal, Patrick Bourke’s Menswear, The Flower Den, Studio 22, Cakes by Desire and C&M Limousines. Wine
and canapés will be served through- out the evening.
Mr Madden said that with a capac- ity of 220, The Great Hall is one of the most unique wedding venues in the region. With strong colours, the new vibrant design enhances the hall’s Gothic features. The new Great Hall foyer with private bar is ideal for standalone receptions as well as pre-function drinks.
With increased capacity, The Great Hall offers an excellent corporate setting for conferences, product launches and exhibitions. The ex- isting conference rooms, known as Plazas 1 and 2, can also be used as a breakout area for the Great Hall. A unique facility offered to business and meeting groups are two new ex- ecutive boardrooms fitted with the sophisticated equipment which are regarded as a prerequisite for most meetings in today’s world.
“The first big change that people will notice when they walk into The Temple Gate is the new reception area and lobby,” said Paul Madden. “We tried to create a new sense of space and brightness. Brave choices were made in combining the Gothic arch and the Classical column, but I believe they work. People assure me that it has the wow factor,” he added. He also said that the hotel has lis- tened carefully to the comments and opinions of customers and he is very
hopeful that people will be pleased with the result.
Paddy Burke Builder Ltd, of Lis- doonvarna, carried out the refurbish- ment of The Temple Gate between January and April of this year. The architects were Frank Ennis and Associates of Dublin. The newly appointed management team at the hotel includes a sales and marketing manager, conference and events co- ordinator and a dedicated wedding co-ordinator.
Formerly part of Ennis Convent of Mercy, The Temple Gate was opened as a hotel in 1996 by John and Vera Madden. With over 30 years’ experi- ence in the hotel business, John Mad- den had a vision to develop this his- toric site as a high-quality hotel.
“I believe we have succeeded. In Dublin, they used to say, I’Il meet you under Cleary’s Clock. In Ennis, The Temple Gate is the meeting point. In a short space of time, the hotel has achieved iconic status as a point of convergence in the heart of Ennis. We are very proud of that. However, we have to reinvent ourselves for new times. This latest investment is our contribution to the development of the hotel in the first decade of the 21st century,” he said.