By Róise Collins

WORKS to refurbish and reopen two of Gaoth Dobhair’s hotels as tourist accommodation are progressing, with the Sea View Hotel on track to reopen next spring.

The hotel on the main Bunbeg to Derrybeg road will boast a total of 64 rooms, 27 more rooms than the previous hotel.

The new bedrooms rooms are set to be completed in the next fortnight, with little more than final touches such as adding soft furnishings remaining.

Once the bedrooms are complete works will then commence on the bar, restaurant, reception and the hotels exterior. Licensing efforts are also currently underway.

Despite the Sea View Hotel being used to host a small number of Ukrainian refugees, Vesada Private who are behind the redevelopment, has strongly denied any speculation that either of the hotels will be used as International Protection Accommodation Service centres.

Des Connolly, the company’s Financial Director told the Donegal News that both hotels, once complete, will serve as tourist accommodation.

Meanwhile, Vesada Private said they also hope to tender for contracts for the vacant Óstan Hotel before the end of the year.

The doors of the Óstan have remained closed since receivers acting on behalf of the banks put the 32-bedroom hotel up for auction almost ten years ago with a reserve price of just €590,000.

Six adjoining holiday apartments and a leisure centre with swimming pool on 76 acres were also included in the lot.

Mr Connolly explained that the rebuilding of the derelict hotel has taken longer than anticipated.

He said that since the plans were first announced costs have increased, which has caused the delays to the ambitious €20 million redevelopment project.

Mr Connolly outlined that the plans are to develop the hotel as a venue primarily used for functions and weddings, which includes a rooftop ballroom.

The first stage which is expected to get underway before the middle of 2026 will include building 80 bedrooms. The next stage will be building 15 apartments and a new spa.

Mr Connolly is hopeful that once they reopen the Sea View Hotel it will show their strong commitment to revitalization and regeneration of Bunbeg.