Islander's Rest ‘will remain a hotel'

THE Islander’s Rest hotel on Sherkin Island has been sold to an Irish firm.

The sale of the landmark hotel, which was guiding €1.5m, is expected to close by the end of the month.

It is believed the new owners are an Irish company, with connections to China.

‘The new owners are very excited with the prospect of owning a hotel in such an idyllic location,’ said Maeve McCarthy of selling agents Charles McCarthy estate agents in Skibbereen. 

‘They intend continuing the business in the style pursued by Mark Murphy, continuing his tradition of working closely with the local community, while maintaining the hotel’s attractiveness to both a local and international audience.’

The sale includes the 21-bedroom hotel which is ten minutes by boat from the mainland and Baltimore, on a 2.2-acre site.

The property includes a bar, lounge, function room, exhibition room and 30-berth marina. 

Completely renovated in 2001, the hotel cover 17,000 sq ft and the nearby Dun na Long castle is also included in the sale.

The castle was built by O’Driscolls in the mid-15th century and was used as a residence and a fish factory up to the mid-19th century.