Drinking tea in front of hotelier, etiquette expert and RTÉ star Francis Brennan makes Irish Country Living feel as shaky as Elizabeth from Keeping Up Appearances. Thankfully, Francis is too nice to point out this writer’s lack of grace or cup-holding abilities.

Unfailingly kind and polite, he is a masterclass in the art of accommodation and along with his brother, John, he has been imparting his wisdom through RTÉ’s At Your Service since 2008.

Though known as a national treasure, Francis, who runs the Park Hotel in Kenmare, Co Kerry, doesn’t regard himself as famous.

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“I have no time for the concept of celebrity. The fact that I’m on television is inconsequential to my life, nor do I go around thinking: ‘I’m on telly and I’m very important’,” he says.

Francis does not tolerate nonsense and isn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty either.

“I would do anything and I have no problem with carrying bags,” he says. “I was born to take responsibility, which is a curse. I could never walk away from here (the hotel). I would like to have a day with no responsibilities, but I’ll be 93 by the time that happens.”

According to Francis, hoteliers must go the extra mile for their customers in providing the “personal touch and quality service”.

“I remember people checking in the first month when we started out in 1989, and they had a puncture in the car. I told them I’d sort it out and sent it to the local garage to have it fixed, for free,” recalls Francis. “They couldn’t believe it, but why wouldn’t you do that?

“It’s about being decent and the personal touch. Years ago, we had a family who had a bad crash and ended up in the regional hospital in Tralee. They were from the US and didn’t know anyone, and I thought it was awful. Once they were released from hospital, they had to stay here for a few days because they couldn’t fly.

“I wouldn’t charge them for staying, because they were convalescing and it wasn’t really a holiday for them. They have come back every single year since.”

Francis also treats his staff to an annual holiday. They’ve travelled to locations as far flung as Las Vegas, and this year they are heading to Copenhagen in December.

“I learned how to treat my staff from my father, who was a grocer and a very nice person to work for,” he says.

“We’ve been away for 34 years on staff holidays. A lady who worked here, who has since passed on, once said to me: ‘You know Mr Brennan, I would have been nowhere in the world if it wasn’t for you’. I brought her to 18 places,” he says.

Meanwhile, Francis’s brother, John, reckons that hotels need to offer something different to customers.

“There’s a thing called Carvery Lunch Syndrome. It’s when one place does carvery, and the place up the road notices and does it too. Wouldn’t they be better off offering a stir-fry? People don’t see that,” he says.

John, who owns Dromquinna Manor in Kenmare, will not be appearing on At Your Service when it returns to screens.

“I’m running two busy businesses. Last year, we did a show in Donegal and it takes seven hours to get there from Kenmare, and a day shooting. In the middle of July, you just don’t have time to leave Kenmare, though our general manager, Patrick Hanley, is brilliant. We can’t do everything, but Francis does the show and that’s fantastic,” he says.

Between his TV career and the hotel, Francis has also been occupying himself by writing two books. His first, It’s the Little Things, was released in 2014 and is a guide to good manners. The latest, Counting My Blessings, is due out this month and is a collection of personal stories, lessons and anecdotes from Francis.

“I count my blessings all the time and I’m thankful for having that approach to life. This book is about all the happy things that happened to me in life,” he says.

The Park Hotel closes in November, except for Christmas, and reopens in March, but Francis isn’t planning on taking much of a break. He also uses the time away from the hotel to film At Your Service, and says that what we see on TV is totally authentic.

“When we are doing a show, on the first day I never get out of the car. The TV crew get out to check lighting and all that, but I like to go in pure and say what I see. I want to go in clean,” says Francis.

“I do enjoy it and the different places one goes. This year we’re in Drogheda, Donegal, The Burren, Tipperary and Wexford,” he adds.

Despite his busy schedule, Francis goes to Lourdes once a year and is also doing the Camino Walk for Cappagh Hospital in October. He also owns a home in Majorca.

“It’s the only place I can relax. It’s just brilliant. I’ve never worn a suit there once,” he laughs.

Time off is a rarity for Francis, who, according to John, “is doing 101 things at once”. However, it seems Ireland’s most-loved hotelier doesn’t mind at all.

“If I die in the morning, at least I can say I’ve had a fantastic life. I’ve done a lot and I’ve loved my job, plus I got a new career at 54 through At Your Service and that doesn’t happen to many people. How lucky was I?”

The Park Hotel Kenmare is pleased to offer Irish Country Living a two-night stay for two people, including full Irish breakfast each morning and dinner in the restaurant on one evening. The prize is subject to availability and to be used prior to 22 November 2015. To enter, send a postcard with your name, address and phone number to Park Hotel competition, Irish Farmers Journal, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12, before Monday 12 October.