THE STAGING of the Brian O’Driscoll-Amy Huberman wedding reception at the five-star Lough Rynn Castle contributed to the hotel returning to profit last year.

Hotel director of the Hanly Group Clement Gaffney confirmed yesterday that the hotel returned a cash profit last year after recording an after-tax loss of €101,258 in 2009.

Mr Gaffney said the hotel “benefited hugely from the publicity surrounding the Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman wedding”.

He said: “We were very honoured that the couple chose Lough Rynn and it was our pleasure to look after them, their families and friends”.

He said that close to 100 wedding receptions were held at the hotel last year and that revenues at Lough Rynn increased by 10 per cent in 2010 over 2009.

The losses sustained in 2009 follow the company recording an after-tax profit of €232,234 in 2008.

Mr Gaffney said that the losses sustained in 2009 arose from reduced levels of turnover at the 42-bedroom hotel.