Two Mile Inn to close its doors

THE Two Mile Inn on the Clare/Limerick border is set to close its doors next Thursday in what is described as a very severe blow to staff.

Manager Annette Gardiner has been working there for 15 years. She said the closure is very disappointing. “It’s very, very hard. Some people have been here for 25 or 26 years and it’s devastating for them. There’s nothing out there and it’s a very difficult time of year with children going back to school.”
The hotel was taken over by Bank of Scotland in 2008 and had been run by PriceWaterHouseCoopers on their behalf. Attempts had been made to sell the hotel as a going concern, but they proved unsuccessful.
Ms Gardiner said staff had been treated fairly by both the bank and by previous owners. “They did their best and we can’t crib about them. The Dunne family had it before them and they were always very good to staff.”
She said that although people had been very supportive of the hotel, ultimately it didn’t have enough business. She added that there were a lot of people looking at taking on the hotel and said she is hopeful that someone would come in at a future date.
Trading conditions had been very difficult of late, Ms Gardiner added. “The decline in the tourism industry killed us. Also, when they were doing resurfacing works near here, it took an awful lot of business. We all know that these things have to be done but it can really affect your trade.”
She said improvements in access to the premises are coming too late.
Ms Gardiner said there are 20 staff at the Two Mile Inn, many of them from Clare.
A representative of the hotel’s reservation department said there are no outstanding deposits and all reservations post September 9 have been dealt with.
Clare TD Pat Breen said he was sad to see the hotel closing. “The Two Mile Inn has been a landmark hotel in County Clare on the main dual carriageway from Limerick City to Shannon Airport. At the height of its success, it proved very popular with business and leisure travellers alike.
“Unfortunately, it has become another victim of the recession as efforts by the receiver who was appointed in 2008 to sell the hotel on as a going concern have failed.”