The Lawlor family were known countrywide in the hotel and catering business. Brigid Lawlor, a pioneer in her time, had built the business that catered at the RDS, Ireland’s premier exhibition space, where national events like The Spring Show and The Dublin Horseshow were held. Lawlor’s also catered for Punchestown Racing Festival, The Curragh Racecourse, (home of The Derby) and also at the Galway Race Festival. Long before the days of women’s liberation, Brigid Lawlor was one of the country’s leading business women, known not only in County Kildare but throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. With attention to detail and an astute business sense, her reputation was excellent and her business thrived.
In the 1930s, Lawlor’s Ballroom opened with a spring-loaded dancefloor and was known far and wide as the premier venue for large events, balls and dances, right up to the 1980s. Below is a picture from the opening night of Lawlor’s Ballroom. The current owner, Jack Tierney, a native of County Kildare, saw the potential of the hotel and to the town and purchased the long-shuttered venue in the early 2000s. In summer 2022 a luxurious upgrade to the whole guest experience begins in Lalwor's of Naas.
