'With hard work, family, and faith in your people, anything is possible': The rise of a Northern Ireland hospitality brand from a dishwashing job at 12 to owning seven hotels across the island of Ireland

Forty years ago, my wife Catherine and I took a leap of faith that would shape the rest of our lives. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of McKeever Hotels in 2026, I find myself looking back with deep gratitude — and more than a little disbelief at how far we’ve come.

My journey in hospitality began long before I ever imagined owning a hotel group. I was just 12 years old when I started washing dishes at Corr's Corner Hotel. The owner at the time, John Corr, saw something in me and encouraged me to pursue my chef qualifications. By 15, I was sitting my chef exams, and over the years I worked my way up to Head Chef — a position I proudly held for 11 years.

I will always be grateful to John for the opportunities he gave me. But even then, I carried a dream of running my own business. In 1986, Catherine and I opened a small restaurant in Randalstown called Granagh House. We lived above the premises with our two young children, Bridgene and Eddie — both now very much part of the business — and later welcomed Marian, Joanne and Frances, who have followed their own paths. Those early days were full-on. We worked long hours, raised our family on-site, and built the business from the ground up.

In 1990, I bought The Wild Duck with my brother Gerry. We ran it together for three years before I sold my share to fund what felt like an impossible opportunity — buying Corr’s Corner. It was 1993, and financially it seemed beyond our reach. I remember pacing the floor of Granagh House late into the night with Catherine, asking ourselves, “Can we really do this?” With the encouragement of a trusted friend and business associate, we applied for a bank loan. The day we signed the papers at John Corr’s house is etched in my memory. That evening, I sat in his old office chair, fully aware that Corr’s Corner was now my responsibility.

In 1997, we added 30 bedrooms to the property. That expansion marked our true beginning as hoteliers. Today, Corr’s Corner is five times the size it was when we bought it.

From those foundations, McKeever Hotels has grown into a family-owned group of seven hotels across the island of Ireland. Our portfolio includes Dunadry Hotel & Gardens, Dunsilly Hotel, The Lodge Hotel, Adair Arms Hotel, Armagh City Hotel and Dillons Hotel. Each one has its own character, but all share the same values: family, authenticity and a genuine passion for people.

People have always been at the heart of what we do. My early experience taught me the life-changing power of opportunity. That’s why we focus so strongly on internal promotion, apprenticeships and development pathways for those with untapped potential. Catherine, a teacher by profession, has always championed education and learning within the business. Together, we’ve tried to build not just hotels, but careers.

Today, the second generation is leading the way. My son Eddie is Managing Director and my daughter Bridgene Keeley is Marketing Director. They bring energy, innovation and a hands-on approach that mirrors our own in the early days. Seeing them carry the business forward is one of my greatest sources of pride.

Of course, the journey hasn’t been without hardship. Catherine often says our toughest year was 1989. Her mother, who helped us by minding the children while we worked, sadly passed away from cancer. At the same time, we were refurbishing Granagh House — a major financial strain — and then a car bomb exploded outside the police station in Randalstown, damaging several local businesses including ours. Resilience as a family kept us going.

More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic tested us in ways we never imagined. Closing our hotels during lockdown was one of the lowest points of my career. I genuinely feared that our life’s work might not survive. But we made a decision to stand by our people. We furloughed and retained all our staff — at significant cost — and when we reopened, we had 97% retention across the group. We were the only hotel group in Northern Ireland to fully reopen all properties and departments fully staffed. That remains a proud achievement.

In 2014, I was humbled to receive an MBE for services to hospitality and tourism. But awards, while meaningful, are not what drive me. What fills me with pride is knowing that from a small family restaurant, we now operate seven hotels — something beyond my wildest dreams.

This year, as we mark 40 years, we are also looking firmly to the future. Following our purchase of Armagh City Hotel in 2025, we have begun extensive refurbishment works there, with exciting renovation updates to be unveiled soon. Over the next two years, all our hotels will see further investment and improvement.

To our team and our guests, I simply want to say thank you. Whether you’ve been with us for four days or four decades, you are part of this story. You have helped us build something truly special.

As I reflect on four decades in business, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every setback taught us resilience. Every risk shaped our future. And as I look ahead, I do so with the same belief that carried us through in 1986 — that with hard work, family, and faith in your people, anything is possible.