Up to 40 hotel workers in Cork have been temporarily laid-off following confirmation that its closure has been extended by a month. Staff at the Blarney hotel and golf resort were hoping against hope that the hotel would reopen tomorrow following its regular January closure. But the surprise closure of its pool and gym complex earlier this month, affecting 10 staff, fuelled fears for the longer-term future of the hotel business. The hotel workers’ worst fears were realised on Thursday evening when it was confirmed that the four-star facility will remain closed in February. Cork North Central Solidarity TD Mick Barry criticised the closure and described the treatment of the workforce as “shoddy in the extreme”.

Source: Irish Examiner January 31, 2020 15:22 UTC