About Us

The Vaughans – Ireland’s oldest golf resort hotel family
For over 4 generations the Vaughan Family have been hosts to visitors to Lahinch in County Clare. Hotels in the early days in Ireland were boarding houses where guests had the choice of either being catered for or using the facilities of the house to prepare their own meals. The original family operated such an establishment in the village. The first modern hotel was on Main Street, run by Andrew and Annie Vaughan which was burned in the troubles of 1922 and rebuilt by Miko Vaughan and his new wife Brid. The hotel was subsequently run by Michael and Philomena Vaughan and later renamed Vaughan’s Atlantic Hotel. Moving with the times, Micheal and Phil bought the Aberdeen Arms Hotel and added 30 bedrooms and car parking in 1970 and successfully ran the only 3 star property at the resort until their retirement in 1989.
Miko and Brid Vaughan
Micheal and Phil had a well earned reputation for hospitality and care that won them many national accolades over the years. The restaurant at the Aberdeen Arms was the place to dine for over three decades. 

Eamonn Vaughan was Chef Cusinier at the Aberdeen Arms and later, in 1989 went on to establish “Mr Eamonn’s” restaurant in the village. Eamonn and Rita Vaughan continued the Vaughan tradition of care and hospitality and set the benchmark for dining quality in the resort throughout the 90’s.
The Vaughan family are one of the oldest families in the resort and have been prominent in the business, cultural and social life of this popular Clare village. At one time, Micheal and Philomena ran the hotel, Post Office, Garage and Micheal was chairman of the Lahinch Development Association.
Micheal and Phil Vaughan
Michael Vaughan joined Jurys Doyle following the retirement of Micheal from the Aberdeen Arms. For nine years he held various management positions at that company before taking over as Group Sales Manager. Michael met Maria Bannon in Liscannor in 1996 and they married in 1997. Maria was a Sales Manager with experience in the FMCG and Service industries. Michael’s experience ranges from project managing a resort hotel in Clifden to stints at the 5 star Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin to Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club nearby.
Michael and Maria Vaughan
Vaughan Lodge, however, is a return to a proud family tradition of hotel keeping. The Vaughan philosophy is to offer honest fare in comfortable surroundings with a real sense of hospitality and personal care. Our guests are part of a club of travellers who enjoy smaller properties and the intimacy of the “mine host” approach to hotel management. 

We look forward to hearing from you and the beginning of a wonderful relationship!!