Kildare's Keadeen celebrates 55th anniversary 

THE Keadeen Hotel celebrated its past while looking to the future as it marked its 55th anniversary recently.

On 8 December 1970, The Keadeen Hotel opened its doors for the very first time. This week, 55 years later, it marks a milestone that few local businesses ever achieve, more than half a century of service, celebration, and belonging at the heart of the community.

For generations, the Keadeen has been more than just a hotel. It has been a gathering place. A venue for weddings, anniversaries, christenings, conferences, celebrations and quiet family meals. It has welcomed visitors from near and far, while remaining deeply rooted in Newbridge and the wider Kildare community. Many locals will remember their first dance, first family celebration, or first job within its walls.

Central to this story is the O’Loughlin Family. For 54 of the last 55 years, the family has been custodian of the Keadeen, guiding its development.

Their commitment to warmth, consistency, and genuine Irish hospitality became synonymous with the hotel itself. Under their stewardship, The Keadeen grew in reputation while never losing its sense of place or purpose.

In 2024, the O’Callaghan family took ownership and it was a fitting renewal of family stewardship and a reaffirmation of the values that helped define the hotel across decades. In an industry often marked by rapid change and anonymity, it represented rare continuity.

Over its 55 years, The Keadeen has mirrored the evolution of the town around it, adapting, expanding, and modernising, while remaining recognisably itself. Its success has always rested on people, loyal guests who return time and again, suppliers and partners who have grown alongside it, and generations of staff who brought the hotel to life through their professionalism and care. Many employees began their careers at The Keadeen and stayed for years, even decades, a testament to the strong culture that has endured.

As the hotel celebrates this anniversary, it does so with gratitude for the past and optimism for the future. 

The return of family ownership brings renewed focus on long-term investment, community connection, and protecting what makes The Keadeen special. While the next chapter will bring change and improvement, the spirit remains the same — a welcoming place, run with care, for the people it serves.

Fifty-five years on from that December day in 1970, The Keadeen Hotel remains a cornerstone of local life. Its story is one of resilience, family, and community, and as it embarks on the years ahead, it does so proudly, supported by the same values that carried it through more than half a century.

Matthew O’Callaghan, Owner, The Keadeen Hotel, said: “Turning 55 is a huge milestone for The Keadeen, and it’s incredibly special for our family to be part of this chapter. The hotel has played a central role in the community for generations, and that sense of local connection is something we deeply value. 

"Our focus now is on protecting what people love about The Keadeen, supporting the team who bring it to life every day, and investing thoughtfully in its future so it continues to serve the community for many years to come.” 

Michael Masterson, eneral Manager of The Keadeen Hotel, said:

“As someone who grew up in this town, the Keadeen has always been part of the backdrop of my life. Like so many people locally, I’ve known it as a place for family occasions, celebrations, and community gatherings long before I ever worked here. To now be part of leading the hotel as it marks 55 years is something I take great pride in. It’s a special building, but it’s the people, past and present, who give it its meaning, and I’m honoured to help carry that forward.”