Shane Lowry tees up investment in hospitality sector

Emante Ltd, a partnership between golfer Shane Lowry and Alan Clancy, a prominent figure in the entertainment and hospitality industry, has been given planning permission to transform the former Tullamore Dew visitor centre into a cafe, gastropub and music venue.

The firm has been given permission to change the use of the landmark protected structure from a heritage centre.

This will involve internal alterations for the ground floor café, public house and gastropub on all levels, kitchens and stores, reconfigured toilets and circulation areas, new external signage and all ancillary site works, according to the recently published planning notice.

Alan Clancy is a prominent figure in the hospitality sector in Ireland and operates a string of bars, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs across the country, including the House venues in Dublin, Belfast and Limerick, 37 Dawson Street in Dublin, the Oyster Tavern in Cork, and Larry and Nora's in Navan, which is named after his late parents.

Lowry isn't the first big name from the world of sport that he has entered a partnership with. Dublin GAA legend Bernard Brogan is a partner in Brogan's pub in Kilkenny, which opened in 2017.