Citywest: From Years of Losses to €17.5m Profit — And a Community Left Asking Who Really Benefits

Citywest wasn’t always the State’s most profitable accommodation hub in fact, the hotel spent years struggling to stay afloat before the IPAS contract transformed its fortunes. The same complex that once hosted global conferences, weddings, and major tourism events was operating at a loss, shifting ownership structures and cutting services long before the State stepped in.

That sudden reversal from financial instability to multimillion‑euro profits under a government contract has raised sharp questions about who truly benefited. While the State now owns the site outright, the surrounding community has lost one of the region’s largest hotels, a major employer, and a cornerstone of local tourism. Businesses that once relied on conference traffic and hotel guests have been left with empty rooms, empty tables, and no clear plan for what comes next.

As profits rise and transparency lags, residents are asking the question no one in government seems eager to answer:

Was Citywest rescued for the public good or was a failing private asset simply absorbed at the community’s expense?