This article is from page 12 of the 2013-04-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
DUBLIN based company di rectors have purchased the landmark Bunratty public house and restaurant Dur ty Nelly’s for an estimated one thi rd of its premium 2008 value.
It has not been revealed how much new owners Martin Scully (50) of Merrion Row, Dublin, and his busi- ness associate Mary McCoy (43) of Dundrum paid for the business, but local property experts put it at between € 4 million and € 5 million.
Dur ty Nelly’s was previously purchased in 2008 by Ennis-based consortium Crystal Par tners, which was owned by businessmen Seanie Lyne and Noel Connellan.
It is believed that this consor tium paid more than € 12 million for the distinctive yellow building visible from the N18 dual carriageway.
Business par tners Mr Scully and Ms McCoy purchased the property last week from Bank of Scotland.
Reassurances have already been given that the 40 plus staff will be retained and it will be business as usual for the foreseeable future.
Minor changes to the interior work have been planned however.
Mr Scully, a director of 12 companies, said he and Ms McCoy were the “highest bidder” for the property, but its price remains “confidential”.
He confirmed however that they did not pay “anything near that” paid in 2008.
In the early 1980s previous owner Humphrey O’Connor bought the pub from Roger Por rit for £1 mil- lion.
The public house that dates back to a shebeen from 1620 is one of the most recognised in the country.
Although li ke most public houses business has suffered in the last number of years, it continues to attract tourists visiting the many attractions in Bunratty and the brand name Durty Nellies also car ries immense brand value.