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THE multi award-winning Station House Hotel Letterkenny is preparing for a milestone 20th anniversary this weekend.
The hotel was founded in August 2006 by Managing Director, Brian Gallagher and his wife Christine.
Having grown up on the corner where the Station House Hotel is now located, the family-run business means a great deal to Brian.
His parents bought the property in 1953 from the Londonderry Lough Swilly Railway at an auction and he’s been there since.
Over the years, the corner became busier with traffic and Brian and Christine began looking into other options for the site.
They settled on the idea of opening a hotel and despite not having experience, they created one of Donegal’s go-to destinations that has gone from strength to strength.
Since opening its doors on August 1, 2006 the Station House Hotel has become much more than a place to stay.
TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin delivered the grand opening and as Letterkenny was hosting that year’s Fleadh Cheoil, Brian thought it would be a perfect weekend to attract guests in the door.
Over the past two decades, the hotel has welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests and hosted countless weddings, conferences and celebrations.
Located in the heart of Letterkenny, the hotel offers 81 spacious and stylish bedrooms, modern conference and banqueting facilities, and the recently refurbished Depot Bar & Restaurant, which has become a favourite destination for both locals and visitors alike.
Over the years, the hotel has proudly supported numerous local charities, sporting clubs and voluntary organisations, including Letterkenny Rovers, Letterkenny Gaels, Letterkenny Tidy Towns, Letterkenny Golf Society, the Letterkenny Heritage Group, the Danny McDaid 15K Road Race, and many more.
“We are home to the Letterkenny Celtic Supporters Club and the Donegal Liverpool Supporters Club,” said Brian.
“We have our own golf society, the Station House Hotel Golf Society. The Letterkenny Tidy Towns hold a lot of events here, and Letterkenny Community Development Project (CDP).
Seeing the growth of the hotel has brought Brian great pride.
“We’re 20 years now in business, and we’ve had our ups and downs but we’ve enjoyed it all,” he said.
“We’ve met so many people over the years. Our vision at the beginning was to have a warm, welcoming hotel where people felt at home.
“Also, we wanted the hotel to be a place for the local community to come, gather, utilise, and be a part of. I think we’ve achieved that.
“We are so thankful to get this far, 20 years down the line. We wouldn’t be here only for the amazing staff, both past and present, that built our reputation through hard work, expertise, and friendliness. We’re very thankful to our suppliers and most of all, to our guests and our customers – the people that travel, both new and old.
“We have a lot of repeat business, and we’re so thankful to them that they come back to us time after time, and to all our local customers that come in for various events on a regular basis.”
A number of team members who joined in junior roles have progressed into senior management positions.
One such example is Paul O’Brien, who joined the Station House Hotel as a Food & Beverage Assistant when it first opened and, through hard work, commitment and dedication, progressed to become the hotel’s General Manager. This commitment to developing and retaining talented people has been a key part of the hotel’s success.
Equally, the loyalty of its customers, many of whom have celebrated life’s biggest occasions at the Station House Hotel over the past 20 years, has played an invaluable role in its journey.
To mark this special anniversary, the Station House Hotel is inviting everyone to celebrate on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 with a weekend of fantastic offers. Guests can enjoy 20 per cent off bar food and 20 per cent off drinks in the Depot Bar & Restaurant, making it the perfect opportunity to experience everything the newly refurbished venue has to offer.
As the Station House Hotel looks to the future, it does so with the same commitment that has defined the past 20 years, delivering outstanding hospitality while remaining proudly rooted in the local community.
The management and staff would like to sincerely thank every customer, colleague, supplier and community organisation that has been part of the Station House Hotel story over the past two decades. Your support, loyalty and friendship have helped shape the hotel into what it is today.
Here’s to the next 20 years of welcoming guests from Letterkenny, across Ireland and around the world, creating unforgettable experiences, and continuing to build on a legacy of award-winning hospitality, exceptional service and strong community spirit.
Managing Director, Brian Gallagher with his wife and hotel co-director, Christine.