A five star floating-hotel could be gracing Dun Laoghaire pier in the very near future.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company has asked developers if they would be intereted in the creating the 'Flotel' at the famous East Pier.

Spokeswoman for the firm, Carolyn Murphy, told Dublin Live: "The Flotel would run along the East Pier; the one that everyone goes for walks on.

"We've just sent out invitations for expressions of interest to see who would be willing to take on the project which we think should run over a three-year-period.

The 5-star Sunborn Hotel in Canary Wharf, London - the vision for Dun Laoghaire

"We don't know what offers will come in but we're hoping the cruise ship would have the capacity to hold at least 100 bedrooms."

Overall, the local response to the concept has been very positive.

Ms Murphy added: "Dun Laoghaire has a limited number of hotels at the moment and the demand for hotels in Dublin in general is ever-increasing so we see this as being a hugely positive thing."


Flotels have proved successful in harbours around the world, like the 5-star Sunborn Flotel docked in Canary Wharf, London.

The Sunborn is precisely what the Harbour Company have in mind for Dun laoghaire.

Along with the Flotel, Dun Laoghaire is also contemplating plans for an Urban Beach, a "world-class" International Diaspora Centre, a major residential development on St Michael’s Pier and the further development of Dublin's rapidly growing cruise business.