A Legacy of Irish Hospitality since 1947

While Europe was still in ruins after World War II, businesses were starting to re-emerge in Ireland. There was a sense of optimism and opportunity for those willing to invest and take risks. The opening of a new Waterford Crystal Factory in March 1947 was a vote of confidence in the city.

Rita Nolan, a mother with a flair for Business, seized the opportunity and in 1947 opened the doors of her new business, Dooley's Hotel. The name originated from the Dooley sisters Mol and Kate, who owned the hotel for many years. Rita saw the potential of Dooley's; it had changed hands a couple of times before the purchase. Superstitious, she never changed the name.

Rita was the sole provider and entrepreneur in an era when men were head of the house and main breadwinner, whilst women were the homemaker who cared for the children. She ran the business while raising her family, becoming one of the early examples of strong female entrepreneurship in Irish hospitality.

Rita welcomed guests to Waterford in a boutique-styled eight bedroom hotel, which had just 10 cups with handles, and a range which burnt turf. She had a natural flair for the Irish hospitality industry, and guests were welcomed with an open fire, traditional tea, homemade scones, and jam on arrival. The food rations had not ceased, and the previous owners had sold the ration books. Guests did not receive the array of food and choice that they now enjoy in Dooley's today. In the 1940's butter. tea, flour, and sugar were in short supply and presented many challenges in developing the hotel.

Growing up in the 1950’s, Rita and her daughter June lived in the hotel. June began to learn the ropes of hospitality from a very young age; helping Rita serve their guests which included the local superintendent, local bank managers and local chief superintendents which were all long-term/permanent guests in the hotel. Tourism was not popular at this time so the business relied on these long-term guests and commercial travellers to continue using the hotels services. This information has carried through generations in the hotel with the brand’s voice still portraying the image of “Your home from home”.

| 1960s–70s | – June takes the reigns

Entrepreneur skills are part of Dooley’s DNA, with Rita’s daughter June completing her formal training in the College of Catering in Dublin. With the hotel growing organically to 34 bedrooms, June stepped in to run the hotel alongside her in the 1960’s. Over many years the hotel developed a fantastic reputation for food, quality, hospitality and comfort. Guests returned year after year, long-term guests continued to use the facilities, and Dooley's slowly expands to meet growing demand.

| 1970s–80s | – Influx of customers forces growth

During this period of time, the hotel saw an influx in popularity and transformed into a full-service establishment. New rooms were grown organically over time to meet the needs and high demands of hospitality from new customers. 

Waterford commonly used to struggle with flooding. Dooley’s Hotel being alongside the River Suir used to be severely impacted by the floods, with the ground floor having water as high as a Wellington boot regularly. Although this did not put a halt to the business, as customers would still come to Dooley’s whilst the flooding was occurring and enjoy their drinks or meals. There are old stories of weddings being hosted at the hotel during the floods, with the groom carrying the bride over his shoulders. 

During 1986, Waterford’s Rice Bridge was in production, bringing an influx of guests to the hotel from Monday’s - Friday’s. June used to stand up on the roof and could watch the construction of the bridge, whilst also being able to see when the crowds were on their way back to the hotel. 

| 1990s | – Third Generation Takes the Helm

In 1994, Tina Darrer joined her mother at the helm, and in doing so became the third generation of the family to be involved in the running of the hotel. Her sister Margaret, thus completing the unique family management team, has now joined Tina.

In 1994, the long-term vision for the hotel was implemented, with the expansion of the hotel to 112 bedrooms. The vision came into reality when the family co-purchased the connecting Granary building with Waterford Corporation. In the winter of 1996, Dooley’s Hotel closed with 34 bedrooms and development commenced, with the plan to re-open in the summer of 1997 with 112 bedrooms. 1997 was the 50th anniversary of the family-run legacy. 

In January 1997, during the development of the hotel, the oldest side of the building where the original 34 bedrooms were had caught on fire. All of the interior of the New Ship Restaurant and the bedrooms were burned, causing massive setbacks in the production. This time was a struggle financially for the family, with bookings cancelled, additional costs for repair and the cost for the ongoing production. The family persevered through the difficulties as they were determined to have the hotel fully produced and open by the end of 1997. To their delight, the hotel re-opened in the late summer of 1997. 

In 1998, the Rita Nolan Conference Centre was the next addition. It caters for the business community needs, and social events of every kind. The suite can cater for small-scale, high-powered strategy meetings, or full-scale product launches. Up to 220 delegates can be catered for in comfort in the Rita Nolan Suite. ISDN lines were put in place to facilitate instant business communication worldwide. In no small measure, this transformed the business and positioned Dooley’s as one of Waterford’s leading hotels. The hotel’s strong reputation for hospitality and the customer experience now had the additional capacity to reach its full potential. Tina joined her mother at the start of this journey.

| 2000s - 2020’s | – Recognition & Growth, Adapting with heart, Building a third generation legacy.

Dooley’s Hotel has continued to evolve while maintaining its proud identity as a family-run business. As the world changes, so too has Dooley’s—embracing innovation, championing sustainability, and staying deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the city.

Dooley’s has continued developing through refurbishments and new guest experiences. The Dry Dock Bar and Bistro Food Experience, and The New Ship Restaurant, sources their food ingredients from artisan food vendors locally. They both offer mouth watering food prepared by an award winning kitchen team. The kitchen team has won many awards over the years, which include the Bord Failte Award for Excellence on two occasions, the Cheese Merit Award, and the Hygiene Trophy sponsored by South Eastern Healthboard. 

Balancing tradition with modern expectations, Dooley’s has invested in digital transformation without losing the warmth of personal service. These changes ensure that guests enjoy the comforts of contemporary travel while still experiencing the genuine, personal hospitality Dooley’s is known for.

Recognising the growing importance of environmental responsibility, Dooley’s has taken clear steps toward more sustainable operations. From upgrading to energy-efficient systems and reducing single-use plastics, to promoting local produce and suppliers in its restaurant, the hotel is committed to reducing its environmental footprint. Staff training programs also emphasize green hospitality, ensuring sustainability is more than policy—it's part of the culture.

Dooley’s Hotel is a proud partner and supporter of many of Waterford’s cultural pillars, which include the world famous House of Waterford Crystal, Waterford Greenway, Theatre Royal, Viking Triangle, Winterval, Waterford Walls, Viking Marathon, Spraoi Festival, and many more. The hotel demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering cultural enrichment and community involvement in Waterford.

Tina & Margaret both play an active role in tourism bodies such as Visit Waterford and the Irish Hotels Federation, advocating for Waterford’s visibility on the national and international stage.

Like many in the industry, Dooley’s faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic—from temporary closures to staff redeployments and shifts in guest expectations. The hotel has recovered stronger through the determination and strength of Tina & Margaret alongside the key team members who were retained and retrained during the COVID troubles. 

| Today | – 78 Years of Hospitality

Established in 1947 by Rita Nolan, the hotel has been operated by three generations of the Darrer Family for 78 years. Currently, Dooley's Hotel sits as the longest-standing family-run business on Merchant's Quay which would have been a central location for business along the River Suir over the 1900's.

For decades we have played a large role as being a top employer in Waterford City. We currently have over 100 full time employees working at Dooley's Hotel. Additionally, we have many part-time staff and we always hire individuals for work experience.

The hotel's commitment to excellence is evident in its accolades, such as winning the Gold Award for Best 3-Star Hotel in Ireland from CIE Tours in 2016, 2022, and 2025. These awards are based on customer feedback, highlighting the hotel's dedication to guest satisfaction.

Further on the topic of customer feedback, we are the highest rated 3-star hotel based on booking.com guest reviews in the South of Ireland. This number is relevant to over 5,000 guest submitted reviews.

Additionally, Dooley's Hotel has consistently earned the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award, which recognises accomodations that consistently receive great reviews and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on TripAdvisor. This accolade reflects the hotel's commitment to providing exceptional service and hospitality to its guests.

The future is in good hands. Tina and Margaret Darrer are now the third generation to run Dooley's Hotel. They pride themselves on the "Guest Experience" developed under the leadership and guidance.

Almost 80 years on in the business, the Darrer family feel the key to the hotel's success and longevity can be attributed to that friendly family-run feeling they have strived to maintain, combined with their ability to move with the times.

The hotel has developed over time to what can now only be described as a modern but homely hotel that caters for all needs from dining, conferences and meetings, weddings, corporate events and entertainment.