Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, where we look back at some of our favourite vintage photos. Looking at old photos can show us how far we have come and in a way, is still one of the best ways of connecting to the past.
Personally, I love finding old photos in buildings back in their early days. It’s amazing to consider all of the changes that have happened there. As well, It’s always a fantasy of mine to imagine the people who have walked in and out of it’s doors, celebrating their milestones and even just thinking about the amazing events that must have happened there.
One beautiful and inspiring image we love is a photo of Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa have of their exterior building. With the hotel now having more than 70 bedrooms and suites including a Penthouse today, it’s hard to imagine that it began as just one bar with four bedrooms back in the 1960s!
In the mid 1960s, the manager of the Great Southern Hotel, Louis O’Hara, spotted an opportunity to buy a plot of land, and the Aghadoe Heights Bar and Restaurant was born. They opened in June 1967, and was an instant hit with both visitors and locals as a great place to unwind with a drink while looking out over the panoramic views of the Killarney Lakes.
In 1969, as the tourist industry began to boom, the then owner Dermot Moore began to develop the business further. In March 1970, he opened 45 bedrooms, transforming the Aghadoe Heights into a hotel for the first time. Then a three-star property, it was managed very successfully by Louis O’Hara and Sandra Williamson.
Over the years, the Hotel has changed hands twice and was purchased by Jerry O’Reilly, who has helped remodel the hotel and spa, helping to transform it into the five-star modern classic you see today.
Aghadoe overlooks the beautiful Lough Lein and it is easy to see the potential the original owners of the Aghadoe Heights Bar and Restaurant saw in this stunning locatio
