Jim Feeney (b. 1949)

Track 1: Jim Feeney managed the Great Southern Hotel, Parknasilla on two occasions. He explains that in 1968, he first came to the hotel as a student at Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin, and he was to remain there for two years. In 1985, he joined the Great Southern Hotel Group in Galway, before moving to Parknasilla in 1987. He discusses his background in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, becoming involved in the hospitality industry in London for four years and later in Sligo, Cavan and Monaghan. Track 2: He recalls the great challenge of accepting an invitation issued by the chief executive of the Great Southern Hotel Group, Eamon McKeown, to manage the Great Southern Hotel in Galway, and two years later, to manage the hotel in Parknasilla. He explains that business at Parknasilla mostly came from the UK up to the 1970s. Track 3: The establishment of new markets for Parknasilla in the 1980s is discussed, as is the targeting of domestic business and the introduction of the hotel to a new clientele through price packaging for events such as golfing, art classes and walks and the mailing of brochures to prospective guests. Track 4: The challenges of managing the hotel at Parknasilla due to the lack of availability of local staff from around 2004 is discussed. The demise of the Great Southern Hotel Group and the commercial decision by Aer Rianta to place some of the Great Southern hotels on the market is discussed. Track 5: In 2004, Jim Feeney took over management of Manor West Hotel in Tralee, where he was to remain for four years, before returning to Parknasilla for the third time. The major changes which occurred in the hotel industry at this time are discussed. The approach made to him in 2009 to manage the Great Southern Hotel in Parknasilla by the new owners through Bernard McNamara, is described. He managed the hotel until his retirement two years later, and he describes the changing market during this time which he describes as more informal and laid back in comparison to former days in the industry.