About 25 years ago Louis Fitzgerald was in the iconic Imperial Hotel in Cork at a function with the Tipperary hurling team. Nicky English – a twice all-Ireland winning hurler – had just become the manager of the team. Fitzgerald, a successful publican and hotelier, who hails from Cappawhite, a hurling stronghold village in Tipperary, was there as a long-term supporter of the team. English and Fitzgerald admired the four-star hotel, which has hosted Grace Kelly and Michael Collins, over a drink. “Louis, you should think about buying this hotel,” English declared. Fitzgerald loved the hotel too but back then…

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