History of The Killarney Park

Our story begins in the late 1930s with a lady named Marie O’Sullivan. She moved to Killarney from a nearby town, Kilgarvan, when she was around 14 years old to work at the Kenmare Arms, a hotel owned by her aunt.

At the age of 24, her aunt offered her the chance to purchase the hotel. Marie, a visionary woman well ahead of her time, approached the bank in Killarney, borrowed the necessary funds and planted the seeds for an enormously successful business while raising four children with her husband, a local teacher.

Marie’s values – exceptional diplomacy, modesty, humility, commitment, hard work, team unity, and community focus – form the foundation of everything we do at The Killarney Park, under the comprehensive leadership of Marie’s son, Padraig, and his wife, Janet. But these values also constitute the core of the other hotels owned and managed by Padraig’s siblings.

Over time, Marie, together with her family, transformed The Ross Hotel into a thriving family business in the heart of Killarney. Marie’s son Padraig took over the helm of the business in the 1980s.

In 1990, Padraig encountered an opportunity to purchase a site just down the street from The Ross, which is where The Killarney Park was built. Opened in 1992, the hotel initially started with 55 rooms. Over time, 15 more rooms were added, along with additional amenities and services.

In 2005, Killarney Park became a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and has consistently established itself as one of the most inviting and luxurious 5-star hotels in Ireland.

Padraig and Janet have five children who have all contributed to the family business. Their two eldest children, Ciara and Marcus, play significant roles in the business, with Ciara managing The Ross in its new format as a 29-bedroom boutique hotel, while Marcus has been stationed at Killarney Park for the past several years.