George Bernard Shaw
One of the most promient names of Irish Literature, George Bernard Shaw affilation with Parknasilla cannot be understated. Shaw was a regular visitor to the hotel in the early 1900’s and wrote some of his most iconic works whilst staying at Parknasilla such as “St Joan”. Shaw was awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925, highlighting his influence on a dramatic change of culture, life and modernization of Irish life. In the same year whilst at residence at Parknasilla he wrote of his affinity of Parknasilla ….
Princess Grace and Prince Rainer of Monaco
In June 1961 Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco and their children stayed in the hotel. One of the iconic and well known couples in the world at the time, the visit of the royal couple and family came with heightened security as a result of threat of kidnapping elsewhere on the family in Europe.
Former head porter and head barman Sonny Lonny recalls of the visit ….
‘They didn’t drink in the bar’ recalls Looney who was still only a raw recruit at the time, , ‘but I did get to meet her and I did get to serve her. I served her drinks in their room.’ The royal guests used to frequent the hotel’s restaurant for dinner in the evening. Our most famous suite”The Princess Grace Suite” is named after Princess Grace who tragically died in 1982 after suffering a small stroke while driving home from France to Monaco.
Charles De Gaulle
One of the most prominent and iconic figures of both French and International politics in the 20th Century, the circumstances of the visit of President Charles De Gaulle to Sneem is a fascinating tale. Following his shock resignation as president in late April 1969, two weeks later De Gaulle ventured to South Kerry for a period of six weeks.
Enthralled by the legacy of Daniel O’Connell and his nearby home of Derrynane, De Gaulle regularly walked the spectacular and famous Derrynane Beach during his stay in Ireland. While De Gaulle did not stay at Parknasilla, he was housed next door at Reenafura, as it was felt he would be better protected there and more secluded considering much of the international press had descended on Parknasilla. However he was serviced by the hotel amid extremely tight security restrictions surrounding his visit. De Gaulle made very little public appearances afterwords and died just two years later in 1971. His funeral is said to be one of the largest in the history of France.
