In these challenging times its great to see a family run hotel doing well and Mount Herbert has gone from strength to strength over the years. George and Rosemary Loughran founded the Hotel back in 1955, and began with just the one four bedroom house on Herbert Road near Lansdowne Stadium. Nowadays, after various expansions, the hotel consists of eight semi-detached houses which are interconnected giving the hotel a massive 168 bedrooms and parking facilities for 100 cars.

The hotel is situated on the site of the old Haigs Distillery which stood from 1769 to 1860 occupying 21 acres along the riverbank. The Dodder supplied power to the distillery through a sluice wheel, the distillery was founded by Robert Haig, Laird of Bemersyde, the first distiller of the famous Scotch whiskey. There is a certain irony about this this as the hotel didn’t get a full bar licence until 1998. The houses along Herbert Road were built in 1886 using bricks from the old distillery.

The second and third generations of the Loughran family are carrying on the tradition these days as John and his son Gerard are at the helm now. John remembers when the hotel was just one house and he would have to clear out and stay with relatives during the summer season.

We were recently given a tour of the hotel by John and PRO Lynsey Willis, I was impressed by the tastefully decorated bedrooms and well equipped conference halls – nine in all. According to John, Mount Herbert has always prided itself on providing a family atmosphere, something which might appeal to our overseas readers if they are thinking of visiting Dublin. The newly refurbished Tritonville Bar is very welcoming with a sunny terrace overlooking the hotel’s ample gardens - ideal for smokers and or sun lovers.

They have recently employed a new food and beverage manager and the new emphasis is on quality, classic Irish fare at reasonable prices. Highly recommended and well worth a visit.