The O’Donoghue Ring Collection, is delighted to announce the appointment of Ariel Sanecki as Drinks Development Manager for the Kerry based hotel group, ahead of a brand new underground bar opening later this month.

Bringing almost 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry to the role, Ariel left his native Poland moving to Ireland in 2008, taking a job at The Cliff House in Ardmore and discovering a love for working behind the bar.

In 2012 he was crowned National Cocktail Champion at the Irish Cocktail Championships run by the Bartenders Association of Ireland. From there, he went on to add a whole host of illustrious awards to his trophy cabinet including: a National Gold Shaker Trophy; Silver at the 2016 World Cocktail Championships in Japan; and the Relais & Châteaux Cocktail Trophy.

After being appointed resort mixologist for Adare Manor Hotel, Ariel once again won gold at the National Cocktail Competition in 2018 before going on to represent Ireland - and win - at the World Championships in Estonia.

Ariel has now joined the family run O’Donoghue Ring Collection and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of beverage concepts and operations across the group. This includes the Collection’s hotels: Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa, Killarney Avenue Hotel, Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre, and River Island Hotel in addition to its independent outlets: Café du Parc, The Tan Yard, The Kenmare Rooms, Scruffys, O’Donoghue Public House and Killarney Urban Farm.

“I am joining the O’Donoghue Ring Collection at an incredibly exciting time,” says Ariel. “Not only are the Collection’s hotels, bars and restaurants going from strength to strength but I’ve also got a brand new and exciting bar and venue opening to get stuck into! I look forward to bringing everything I’ve learned over the years about cocktail and drinks craft to this role and working with a team to grow, develop and open what we hope will be the best bar offering in Ireland!”