Why I Love My Job by Limerick lady Dee Nix, CEO of Lawlors Hotel in Naas

Dee Nix, CEO of Lawlors Hotel in Naas pictured above

Dee Nix is originally from Raheen in Limerick

Limerick lady Dee Nix is originally from Raheen in Limerick and went to school in Laurel Hill and then to Shannon College to study Hotel Management.

Dee worked for The Sheraton Hotel in Germany, The Cumberland Hotel in London, Jurys Hotel in Cardiff and then to Killashee Hotel in Naas where she was for 21 years until the hotel changed names and became Lawlors. Dee moved to Lawlors Hotel at the end of this past Summer as CEO to work with the team to open Lawlors new extension.

Jack Tierney is the owner of Lawlors, and Dee worked with Jack  at Killashee to open that also, so it is lovely to be back working together again.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

Dee said, “Lawlors Hotel is steeped in history and there are so many stories about it and we have tried to enhance that where we have put some beautiful pieces from all over the world into the hotel. From a gorgeous fireplace from a Chateau in France, stained glass windows from a cathedral in Nevada, brass gates from a bank in Las Vegas, a reception desk from the Berkley Court in Dublin and heating grates from the Christchurch Cathedral.

We now have 138 bedrooms, two beautiful ballrooms and conference suites that can cater for up to 350 people, two executive boardrooms on the top floor all are equipped with state of the art conference facilities and a gorgeous new lobby and a statement round bar in the middle of our restaurant.

With Naas being ideally located in the country we are the perfect place for the conference business and we are very lucky in that we have loyal customers both locally, nationally and internationally. A highlight of the year is the Punchestown festival and we are very excited about this year as we have more bedrooms and facilities to offer our guests and really look forward to showing it off.”

What makes you proud to be from Limerick?

To be honest, I’m always proud to say I am from Limerick, as to me it’s a beautiful county with lots to do with a  great city life and the people are great. And I most certainly love following the Limerick Hurling they have done us all proud that’s for sure.

Tell us about your childhood in Limerick

I had the best time growing up in Raheen and going to School in Mungret and thereafter Laurel Hill. We were very lucky as we had lots of cousins living in Limerick and both in the city and the country so I have wonderful childhood memories of playing with the cousins on the farm and always meeting up on Christmas morning with my cousins from Corbally.

Is Hotel Management something you’ve always been interested in?

I just love the feeling of being in a beautiful hotel, the excitement, the glamour , the fun. It was always something that attracted me.

Tell me a little about your job and what you love most about it?

It’s a busy one that’s for sure and opening a new hotel is always a challenge but exciting as you can put your own stamp on it.  I adore organising events, and planning it all out , training the staff and making a client’s dream come true. The hotel business is always challenging and indeed changing so it’s an exciting business to be in. But you have got to love it and when you do it doesn’t feel like work at all.

Who are your greatest inspirations both in work and life?

I have worked with some fabulous people throughout my career and have learned so much along the way and what is lovely is that I can always pick up the phone to them and ask their advice which is just wonderful. In life I have got some wonderful friends and my family. They are just great and always with great words of advice and encouragement.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Looking after people and making them happy and that goes for the people I work with just as well as the guests. We all need to work as a team and get on with each other as if you are happy in work you look forward to coming in each day and I have been blessed that is how things have been for me.

What have been some challenges in your career?

Oh my god the recession was so tough, the business just fell through the floor and we had to leave so many people go, so it was tough. Then Covid hit and it was heart-breaking to let more people go and then to see a beautiful hotel without people in it, it was soul destroying.

To me hotels are to be a place of enjoyment and fun and without the people you just can’t make that happen.

What advice would you give to people wanting to pursue a career in your field?

I would say go for it, you will always have work, you can travel, meet fabulous people and go to Shannon College to study where you will make the best friends of your life. Your job is so vast it will never be boring.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time

Hopefully all going well in Lawlors Hotel in Naas where by then we would really have established ourselves in the conference/corporate, leisure and wedding business and be a leading hotel in the country.

What is your favourite thing about Limerick?

Meeting my friends and family, walking in Curraghchase and out at UL. I love going into town for a browse around the shops and I am an avid fan of hurling and rugby.

Related stories

More info on Lawlors