22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Famed Lisdoonvarna hospitality venue seeks match with a new owner
Selling agent Tom Barrett of Savills is quoting €4.75m for the three-star venue which accommodates 113 bedrooms as well as a large function room for music and events and additional nightclub space. It is located on 1.8 acres which includes on-site parking, tennis courts and a lawn.
The Hydro traces its history back to the 19th century when Lisdoonvarna was popular with the Irish farming community as they celebrated their harvest and sought to meet potential partners. This later became known as the match-making festival.
Their choice of venue was due to the reputed healing powers of the natural sulphur springs which gave the then remote Clare village its name. At a time when there were very few spas in Ireland, visitors imbibed the waters and danced from the afternoons until late at night in the local hostelries.
In the 1970s Jim White, Marcus's father and a former Fine Gael TD, bought the Hydro and applied his professional tourism acumen to promoting the town and the hotel. He hosted local match-maker Willie Daly who attracted love-seeking singletons from all over the world to call on his skills and contacts to find them a partner.
Meanwhile, the White family expanded their operations to include a tour business as well as other hotels in Clare and Kerry.
After Marcus took over the Hydro, he sought to extend the match-making season by welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors to The Outing, a match-making weekend that attracted over 60,000 people.
For decades boosted by Shannon Airport and the regional development company, Co Clare's extensive range of tourist attractions have became more widely known, including the Burren National Park with its limestone karst landscape and Lahinch which attracts surfers, golfers and lovers of traditional music.
The Cliffs of Moher as well as a range of beaches are also close to Lisdoonvarna, attracting tourists throughout the year.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees were welcomed to the town and The Hydro proved a haven since then. Howeverm this is expected to change when the Government implements its policy of providing state accommodation.
The Hydro is expected to return to its heritage of transforming the world's singletons into happily married couples and families.
