The Ennis-based Lynch Hotels Group has taken over the management of the four-star Galway Bay Golf and Country Club Hotel and clubhouse at Renvyle, near Oranmore in Co Galway as part of an expansion programme.

Details of the deal, believed to be a long-term lease, were not disclosed but Mr Michael Lynch, group managing director of the family company, said it was part of a marketing and development strategy along the west coast.

The deal to manage the 92-bedroom hotel was made with Rinville Management Company whose directors are the Mayo-based building contractor, Sean Mulryan, the Co Galway-based businessman and racehorse owner, Mr Herbert Stanley, and Mr Christy O'Connor jnr who designed the golf course.

Mr Hugh Coyle has been appointed general manager of the hotel. He previously managed the Metropole Hotel in Cork and the Renvyle House Hotel in Connemara.

The Lynch Hotel Group is the biggest hotel operator in the west, with six hotels containing 592 bedrooms. Last July, it entered the Co Galway market when it purchased Hayden's Hotel in Ballinasloe. It also owns the West County Hotel, the Clare Inn and the Ocean Cove Hotel in Co Clare, and the South Court Hotel, in Limerick, is being extended to include another 60 bedrooms and a conference centre. Mr Lynch said the intention was to expand to eight hotels by next year.

"As a group we tend to be very self sufficient. We have our own tour operating business and recruitment agency".

He said that the intention of the group in the medium term was to expand in the west. "We would like to be in Dublin at some stage," he added.

The business was founded by his parents, Michael and Christina, who set up the West County Hotel in Ennis in 1968 which now has 152 bedrooms.

"We grew from two hotels to three hotels in 1998, and we grew from three hotels to five hotels last year," Mr Lynch said.