The family-owned Flynn Hotel Collection is celebrating the success of its three hotels at the recent 2026 Irish Hotel Awards.
The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis and Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny received national recognition alongside individual awards recognising colleagues across the collection.
The Old Ground Hotel received the award for Best Local Hotel in Ireland while the Newpark Hotel was named Best Family Friendly Hotel in Ireland. The Park Hotel in Dungarvan was Highly Commended in the Best Self Catering category, with three members of its management team also taking home regional awards.
Founded by Niall and Dottie Flynn over 65 years ago in the spirit of “Let our Family Look After Yours”, the collection is now managed by their sons, John, Allen and Pierce. The awards reflect that family ethos, recognising both the welcome guests receive and the people whose work shapes each stay.
At The Old Ground Hotel, the Best Local Hotel in Ireland title recognises a hotel with a close connection to Ennis and the wider Clare community. Located in the heart of the town, the historic property has long been a gathering place for local celebrations, family occasions and visitors discovering the county. The locally focused recognition is a much appreciated nod to the charm and personality of this locally loved and nationally visited property.
For Newpark Hotel, the Best Family Friendly Hotel in Ireland award celebrates a property where generations of families have come to spend time together. Set across 25 acres of parkland close to Kilkenny city centre, the hotel combines family accommodation, an adult only floor with hot tub suites, wedding and conference facilities and wellness and leisure amenities.
The awards assessor particularly praised the team’s thoughtful approach to families, from staff engaging directly with children to making mealtimes easy for parents. Small touches, including cookies and milk in reception at night, were also singled out as helping to make the stay special.
In Dungarvan, The Park Hotel’s Highly Commended recognition for Best Self Catering highlights another way for families and groups to enjoy a stay within the collection. Its self-catering accommodation offers the space and flexibility of a holiday home with access to the hotel’s facilities, close to the Waterford Greenway, beaches and Dungarvan town centre, and the excellent dining and leisure facilities here really connect the self catering guests to the hotel experience.
At Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, the team got a significant recognition headed up by Mark Flynn and Niall Dunne who were recognised as Best General Managers in Leinster. Meanwhile Marketing Manager Philip Kelly, MIHI, received Best Marketing Manager in Leinster and People and Culture Manager Mary O’Neill was named Best HR Manager in the region. Revenue Manager Elaine Scott won Best Revenue Manager in Leinster and Events Sales Manager Gill Long received the national award for Best Events Manager in Ireland.
At The Park Hotel in Dungarvan, Declan Moriarty was named Best General Manager in Munster, while Louise Young received Best HR Manager in Munster and Catherine Russell was named Best Accommodation Manager in Munster.
Together, the individual awards reflect the range of work involved in running the hotels, from preparing bedrooms and planning special occasions to supporting colleagues and welcoming guests.
John Flynn of the Flynn Hotel Collection said: “Our parents founded the collection with a simple idea: ‘Let our Family Look After Yours’. That spirit lives on today throughout each hotel, brought to life by our dedicated and passionate teams, in how they care for guests and how they support one another. We are very proud of our winners and everyone working alongside them. It is particularly special to see both our hotels and our people recognised.”
The Irish Hotel Awards recognise excellence in Irish hospitality through independent, in-depth inspections, celebrating hotels that deliver distinctive guest experiences and the people helping to raise standards across the industry.
The Flynn Hotel Collection comprises Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, The Park Hotel in Dungarvan and The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. Its approach to hospitality combines thoughtful guest experiences and quality food with a commitment to employee care, sustainable growth and the protection of the local environment and community.