Industry sources say that the deal that saw a partnership led by US billionare John Malone take control of the former-Four Seasons hotel in south-Dublin was valued at a minimum of €50m.

The hotel had previously been bought by the UK firm London and Regional four years ago for only €15m.

The figure was revealed to the Irish Independent - this means that the property's price more-than trebled during the 4 year period. 

The 197-bed luxury hotel was built in 2001 by a consortium known as the Nollaig Partnership.

The group included NAMA developers David Arnold, Derek Quinlan and Alan and Niall McCormack - ex-AIB chairman Dermot Gleeson, and former Anglo director Lar Bradshaw - among others.

Since it was purchased the business has been rebranded as Dublin's Intercontinental Hotel - it is the first InterContinental hotel in Ireland since the 1960s.