Genial Achill hotelier dies
Hundreds of people from Achill and across the county paid their respects to Michael McLoughlin, one of Achill’s best-known businesspeople, who died on Friday evening.
Hundreds pay respects to genial Achill hotelier
The news of Michael’s death at 53 years of age was met with sadness throughout the island as tributes were paid to the popular proprietor of Óstán Oileán Acla, who was described by many who knew him as ‘a gentleman’. Michael had battled serious illness for a number of years with great courage and dignity, but the news of his death at his home on Friday evening still came as a shock to many people.
Along with his wife Úna, they successfully ran the popular pub Alice’s Harbour Inn in Polranny before undertaking the ambitious venture of building a hotel on the same site. In 1999, they opened Achill’s newest hotel, Óstán Oileán Acla, which incorporated 26 bedrooms, a restaurant, function suite and bar. The function suite provided first-class facilities for all kind of events and allowed Achill people the opportunity to hold their weddings in the parish instead of travelling to other towns in the county.
The respect in which Michael was held in the community could be seen by the huge crowds who gathered at Lavelle’s Funeral Home in Cashel on Saturday and Sunday evening to pay their respects to Michael and sympathise with his family. On Sunday evening, many people lined up for close to 40 minutes outside the funeral home to pay their respects.
Mr Kenneth Deery, Chairman of Achill Tourism, paid tribute to Michael and sympathised with his wife Úna and his family. He told The Mayo News that Michael along with Úna had contributed so much to tourism on the island and described him as a ‘very sincere’ person.
“Michael contributed so much to tourism on Achill through the years with his fine premises being the stalwart of venues for hosting events on the island. He was a very sincere man who worked hard running the hotel and was very much a community person. It is very sad to hear of his death at such a young age and my sympathies go to Úna and his family,” he said.
Michael is survived by his wife Úna, sons Cathal and Micheál, mother Marie, sisters Mary and Lelia, aunt Hannah, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, cousins and extended family. He was predeceased by his father, Harry. Requiem Mass took place in the Church of Mary Immaculate, Achill Sound, yesterday and burial took place afterwards in Polranny Cemetery.