Buffalo buck the downturn

HOTEL ATTRACTIONS:HOTELIERS ALL around the country will be looking for a home where the buffalo roam if the stampede of visitors to the Gweedore Court Hotel is anything to go by.

The Donegal hotel has managed to buck the travel trend with business up 20 per cent over the past 12 months, much of it attributable to the arrival of a herd of native North American buffalo.

Hotel owner Patrick Doherty won his first two animals at a charity auction in 2006. Since then, nature has taken its course and the herd now extends to nine, with the latest addition to the family making its appearance last summer.

“They have settled in really well and proven enormously popular with visitors,” said Doherty, who built a look-out tower on to the hotel so guests can enjoy watching them in all weather.

“I never had any plans to get into rearing buffalo but I have to say they make a lovely hobby,” said Doherty. “They are magnificent-looking creatures that are a joy to watch and people come from far and wide to see them, not just residents in the hotel.”

But don’t be deceived by their docile appearance. “It’s a mistake to think they are like cows. In fact they can be quite temperamental and if they decide to go for you, watch out, because they can get up to speeds of 40mph,” he says.“We’ve got great publicity as a result of them, to the point that this year is looking good for us too.”