Donegal’s Viking House Hotel preparing to reopen ahead of St Patrick’s Day

The Viking House Hotel is preparing to reopen ahead of St Patrick’s Day. 

The lease was recently acquired by Lena Breslin Björck, who intends to transform the 14-bedroom hotel. 

“We want to turn it into a real place for hospitality,” Lena tells DonegalLive. “We are going to serve good food, with phenomenal service, where the customer is the focus.”

The hotel located in Belcruit will open on St Patrick’s weekend. “We are going to do everything slowly but surely and get it right. We will have a bar menu that is efficient and quick; this is only the beginning.”

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Originally from Sweden, Lena relocated to Donegal three years ago along with her husband, Finbar Breslin, a Burtonport native. The pair have been together 15 years and have a daughter, Rosie, who is nine. 

Lena commutes from Donegal to London to run Alexander and Björck, a London-based catering company, which she is the Founder and Managing Director of. The company has been booked to be involved with next year’s Ryder Cup, the prestigious golfing event which takes place at Limerick’s Adare Manor in September 2027. 

“Since I moved here, I have been drawn to the Viking, because I am the Viking,” Lena continues. “We relocated here from London, thinking we would be here for three weeks. We have now been here for three years and live very close to the Viking.”

The hotel, which was formerly owned by Daniel O’Donnell, is wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly, boasts a sea view, bar, deli, and restaurant. They have linked with ATU Killybegs Catering College to provide training to staff. 

There is an array of positions available, such as chefs, kitchen porter, night porter, reception, housekeeping and bar and wait staff. Applications can be made through the email hello@vikinghousedonegal.com. 

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