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However in 1914 war broke out and the anti- German feelings did not help the Humbert's business. The sinking of the Lusitania forced the Humbert family to hideout in the wine cellar as an angry crowd gathered in Westbourne Place calling for the hotel to be burnt down.

During the time of the Lusitania the hotel was converted into a hospital and commandeered by a lady holidaying in Queenstown at the time. She was an English lady whose husband was involved in fighting in the wars in India. The hotel has a copy of the letter she wrote to her beloved husband detailing exactly what she did at the time.

The O' Shea family acquired the hotel in 1968 and conducted extensive renovation's before it reopened as a hotel.