The original castle here dates back to the 13th Century and was in the Norman style. The De Burgos family built it after their defeat of the O’Connors of Connaught. Successive Lords extended and fortified the castle over the following years. In the mid 1700’s Lord Ardilaun designed and built a French style chateau, incorporating the original castle structure. In 1852 it became the country residence of the Guinness family and remained so until 1939. This impressive castle has since been transformed into Ireland’s finest resort hotel. The overall impression as you approach it is one of breathtaking awe.
But if you are impressed with the exterior, you will be totally overcome by the interior. Lofty paneled ceilings, rich furnishings, intricate woodcarving, battlements, paintings, knights in armor and 85 spacious and luxurious guest rooms all add up to a fabulous interior unmatched by any other hotel.
The castle is surrounded by 350 acres of wooded parkland and a walk around the grounds is well worth the effort. There are many old structures around the castle and there’s a very pleasant walk to the Quiet Man Cottage. You can take a cruise on Lough Corrib and the boat will stop at a particularly interesting island. It is here that the oldest Christian inscriptions (with the exception of the Roman Catacombs) are carved into a monumental stone.
For those who can afford to stay here you may be lucky enough to play in the billiard room that was built for King George’s visit in 1903 or perhaps sleep in the luxurious bed specially commissioned for President Reagan’s stay in 1984. You may dine in two of the finest restaurants in Ireland – The George V Room, offering traditional and continental menus or The Connaught Room, specializing in French cuisine. But while few of us can afford such amazing luxury, Ashford Castle is not to be missed as a place of interest on your way around Ireland.
You can view some great pictures of Ashford Castle on these web sites:
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