Mullaghmore tri - ruined by the Pier Head Hotel

HardyEustace

Just putting this up to see if anyone else had a similar experience and to let people know.

Stayed in the Pier Head Hotel for the weekend. Once again, the triathlon was lovely with great people and a fantastic atmosphere.

However, the hotel absolutely WRECKED the weekend for me. On Friday night, they had rented out a room (actually the room the post-race meal was in) for function - a 60th birthday party.

Our room was almost over the function room. The band (and I use that word in the loosest possible term) started at ten o'clock and got louder and louder and louder. My bed was actually vibrating with the noise.

It was HORRENDOUS. I went down to complain first and the manager said that she'd ask the band to keep it down, and sorry, but there was nothing she could do. I have never heard such rubbish in my life. There was a triathlon on the next day, the hotel was packed to capacity due to people staying for the triathlon. Most of the people staying at the hotel were competing in the triathlon so it wasn't as if the hotel didn't know that the birthday would be disturbing a very large number of people who'd be having an early night.

The manager was of no use at all. I asked what time the band were finishing and were told "oh maybe around 12:30".

The band didn't stop at 12:30 or 1:00 or 1:30, they were still gong strong at 1:50. I went down to complain again at 1:30 and the manager was rude and abrupt and obviously didn't care about my complaints. As I walked along the hotel corridor it was obvious that the entire corridor of people were still awake. This was due to the fact that the walls were so thin that you could hear toilets flushing, people brushing their teeth and plugging things into the wall.

When I went down the second time to complain, the manager had the audacity to say to me, "do you not think that people have a right to celebrate their birthday" and implied that I was a complete kill joy for wanting the music to be turned down.

I pointed out that the hotel were making a killing out of the triathlon, between feeding people, having people stay and catering for the triathlon. And that the hotel could either host birthday parties or provide accommodation for people but it couldn't do both. He then replied that it was a short season and that they had to pack everyone in. When I pointed out it was at the expense of his guests and that I hardly thought it was the first time it happened he then once again asked me if I wanted to deny someone their birthday. I've never such such rubbish in my life.

I was wrecked the next day and just so angry at the absolute blatant disregard they showed for their guests. I think it's a real shame when the people organising the triathlon put so much hard work into the triathlon that the hotel treats the people participating in it and contributing to the local economy very handsomely so shoddily.

Bambaata

Thats terrible. I'd go ballistic with them. Whats the craic with calling in the gardaí in such a situation. like if a neighbour had a party at such hours they'd be forced to stop and i wonder if the same could apply?

HardyEustace

That's one thing that I kept thinking about and why I spent from 12:30 to 1:30 thinking "surely they'll stop now, surely they'll stop now, surely they'll stop now".

Then there was the noise of people in and out of the hotel for a smoke and general banter.

By far the most galling was the absolute disregard that the hotel had for their guests.

meep

That's interesting.

My initial reaction was to comment on the selfishness of the OP in not respecting the the facts that others may want to make use of the hotel facilities and that hotels are businesses and must maximise their revenues.

However, thinking about it a little more, the primary function of a hotel is to provide accomodation for guests and they should be entitled to a peaceful nights sleep. Noise etc. up to midnight I would have no problem with but close to 2am is a bit much alright.

If I recall from a stay there a few years ago, it's a pretty compact site and I don't think there would be any way to mute noise from the function room. A strongly worded letter to the hotel from several guetss might be in order, cc'd to failte ireland (though I don't see any star rating on their website).

Though I would look at it from the pov of guests at the function who booked the room for the night for a good knees up - not their fault at all and they are entitled to celebrate.

It's the hotel that needs to resolve the difficulty they have in introducting this conflict.

Peter]

wellboss

I agree with the OP, i was woken up several times, even at 4 o clock when the band were loading there truck and having a good auld chat below my window,

However I do understand that the season is short and they do need to make there business then,if they don't the place will close otherwise we would have no where to stay.

Hopefully next year they take all the complaints on board and resolve the issue.

ladytri

That's really frustrating. A hotel's primary concern should be with the guests they are accommodating and it shows absolutely no concern for their welfare. At the very least, knowing that a number of people staying would be participating in the tri the next morning, the hotel should've provided them with the rooms furthest away from the function room. Alternatively, inform guests when booking that there will be a function on that night and allow the guest decide wether they want to stay or not - some people wouldn't mind particularly if they're planning a bit of a session themselves!

ManFromAtlantis

ya thats absolute crap.
they should have these 'functions' in a separate building/hall/
a bit irish to be honest.
and whats the story with bands cranking up the volume so u cant hear yourself think........... give us a break bandies we're not deaf (well we were'nt) before)

Stark

Could they invest in some sort of sound proofing for the ceiling I wonder? Not acceptable to be keeping people awake with loud music when they're trying to get a night's sleep.

daveyrovers

Sorry to hear about that. It's a real **** one. Something similar happened me in Waterford one year for the Carrick Triathlon. Room next door to us and you could hear everything. In fairness to the guy he was going all night, I had to convince my wife that there was at least three blokes in there. He was making me look bad. Long story short he started the bed banging at about 1am and kept going till 6am, and she was loud too. There were parts in between where they may have rested. I hope to god he wasn't doing the same Triathlon as me the next day

That man had staying power.

plodder

HardyEustace wrote: »

He then replied that it was a short season and that they had to pack everyone in. When I pointed out it was at the expense of his guests and that I hardly thought it was the first time it happened he then once again asked me if I wanted to deny someone their birthday. I've never such such rubbish in my life.

What an appalling attitude. It sounds like Faulty Towers to be honest, and I'm amazed you still get that in this day and age. They should have warned you if the room was going to be noisy.

HardyEustace

Well, in future I'm always going to try and stay in b&bs. We stayed in a fantastic b&b in Mullaghmore last year but it was all booked up this year.

Had a similar problem last year when we stayed in what is now the Maldron Hotel in Portlaois the night before Athy. Don't ask me how but there was a stag party staying there (what a rubbish location for a stag!).

Anyway, the music started along with the noise. Reception were feeble and didn't show much authority in dealing with the problem, though were much more helpful.

The triathlon gods were smiling on us somewhat though. Just as we were about to threaten to do unspeakable things to them with a few upright bicycle pumps there was a sound of high pitched female giggling along with a loud whisper of "party in our room lads". Cue the sound of about twelve locked men, falling over themselves in search of the party. One minute later - blissful silence!

Definitely b&bs all the way from here on in.

chinguetti

daveyrovers wrote: »

Sorry to hear about that. It's a real **** one. Something similar happened me in Waterford one year for the Carrick Triathlon. Room next door to us and you could hear everything. In fairness to the guy he was going all night, I had to convince my wife that there was at least three blokes in there. He was making me look bad. Long story short he started the bed banging at about 1am and kept going till 6am, and she was loud too. There were parts in between where they may have rested. I hope to god he wasn't doing the same Triathlon as me the next day

That man had staying power.

Must be something about Waterford hotels. Was in Dungarvan two years ago for the Sean Kelly Cycle and next door had a mighty night of it when they got tired of the wedding downstairs. I doubt that he was doing the cycle the next day though.

tunney

Same thing happened to me for Carna a few years ago, party kept going till 3 or 4 though. I got in the car to drive home around 3pm but was stopped by a friend. Have never and probably will never holiday in that region again.

HardyEustace

tunney wrote: »

Same thing happened to me for Carna a few years ago, party kept going till 3 or 4 though. I got in the car to drive home around 3pm but was stopped by a friend. Have never and probably will never holiday in that region again.

Which hotel? Name and shame.

misty floyd

What is way out of order is how long the band were aloud play to. Even at weddings, bands don't play at 1.50. How did the tri go anyway?

daveyrovers wrote: »

Room next door to us and you could hear everything. In fairness to the guy he was going all night, I had to convince my wife that there was at least three blokes in there. He was making me look bad. There were parts in between where they may have rested. I hope to god he wasn't doing the same Triathlon as me the next day

Sorry bout that