‘Catholic 
Faith saved 
me during 
the recession’

‘Catholic 
Faith saved 
me during 
the recession’ Francis Brennan Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Hotelier and RTÉ television star Francis Brennan has revealed that his profound Faith in God saved him as his life fell apart during the recession.

Speaking this week, Mr Brennan said: “I wanted to retire at 55 but my life fell apart because of the recession. I lost a lot of money, you would be a very happy person if you had the money I lost…as it happened, the Lord – who is my friend – gave me a new career at 54 and I sailed through the recession.”

Mr Brennan – who is a frequent volunteer at Lourdes and has been honoured by the Pope for his charitable work – also revealed that his Catholic Faith means he has no fear of dying.

“If I dropped dead this minute, I’ve had the most wonderful life. I have great Faith, and I believe in God – so I have no worries across the line.”

The Kerry-based hotelier has frequently spoken about how the recitation of the Rosary punctuates his day and that one of his most prized possessions is a pair of beads given to him by Pope St John Paul II.