1960 – Castlerosse Motel, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Built on the site of Royal Victoria Hotel in front of the Lower Lake, the Castlerosse Motel, described as the first motel in Ireland, was built in four months from drawing board to opening, for Pauline Fenno and Beatrice Grosvenor. The Hotel was officially opened by Jack Lynch, Minister for Industry and Commerce, and was the first hotel in Killarney to have a swimming pool.

Donal O’Neill Flanagan, or Don, was an Irish architect from Waterford, studied architecture in Christ’s College in Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh. Philip Jebb (1927-95) was one of the most admired private-client architects working in Britain in the years following the Second World War. He produced buildings in both contemporary and classical modes and built a reputation for his sympathetic work with historical buildings, and was considered to have been the best traditional architect practising in post-war Britain, and worked extensively for the National Trust and Landmark Trust.

Beatrice Grosvenor was the last member of the Browne family in Killarney following the initial arrival of her ancestor, Sir Valentine Browne, in 1587. They later received the titles Baron Castlerosse, Viscount Kenmare and, in 1800, one received the title Viscount Castlerosse, Earl of Kenmare for his support of the Act of Union with England. The Earldom continued until Gerald, the 7th Earl died in 1952 without a male heir. His niece, Beatrice, inherited the 25,000-acre estate but she had little option but to sell the manor house and much of the lands to pay death duties although she retained close on 6,000 acres. She was a cousin of Lucy Jebb, wife of the architect.