Ashford Castle Ireland
Old-World Elegance
Meets Modern-Day Luxury

In the Western region of Ireland, County Mayo is
The proud home of Ashford Castle Ireland.

This luxury castle hotel is the ultimate balance of old world elegance and modern day luxuries. The castle estate covers 350 acres of private woodlands right on the banks of the Lough Corrib.

Ashford Castle Ireland is truly luxurious and quite popular with celebrities and heads of state, including American presidents. One of the most interesting areas of the castle displays pictures of many famous celebrities who have stayed at the castle.

The original building at Ashford Castle dates back to 1228 when it was used as a monastery. The de Burgos family built it after the native O'Connors of Connaught defeated them.

The castle was expanded and fortified by other lords over the years. The main building was built in the mid 18th century by Lord Ardilaun. It is a French style chateau that incorporates the original castle.

The Guinness family made Ashford Castle Ireland their country home in the middle of the 19th century. Since then it has been carefully restored and gloriously transformed into the finest resort hotel in Ireland.

In fact, Ashford Castle Ireland was voted Ireland's best hotel for seven years in a row.

As you roam the halls of Ashford Castle, you will be swept away by the timelessness of its rich history. The castle's interior is richly decorated and full of excellent craftsmanship and artistry.

There are 83 guest rooms, each uniquely decorated by a leading interior designer to bring out the character of each individual room. Suites provide ample space to stretch out and revel in the lap of luxury. The suites showcase high ceilings, antique furnishings, marble bathroom fixtures, and clawfoot bathtubs.

The elegant George V Dining Room accommodates up to 150 guests and boasts stunning views of the surrounding landscapes - the Lough Corrib, the River Cong, and the wooded parklands. Guests of the Dining Room are pampered with luxurious furnishings, excellent traditional Irish cuisine, and the best of the famous Irish hospitality.

The entire Ashford Castle staff works tirelessly to provide their elite guests with the ultimate in comfort, relaxation, enjoyment, and luxury.

One of the finest rooms in Ashford Castle is The Connaught Room. This dining room accommodates up to 48 people and features gourmet French cuisine.

Traditional entertainment is available nightly in the Dungeon Bar, including the talents of a harpist, balladeer, and a bard. Audience participation is a routine part of the evening.

The Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar was built specifically for the 1905 visit of the Prince to Ashford Castle Ireland. The warm ambience of this special room includes oak panelling and the Guinness family coat of arms over the fireplace.

Outside the castle, there are many ways to enjoy your Ashford Castle Vacation. Not only are you treated to beautiful views of the lake, cruises on the lake can be arranged by the castle staff.

The cruise makes a stop at an island in the middle of the lake where you can see the ancient Christian inscriptions carved into a monumental stone. The only older Christian inscriptions in Europe are located at the Roman Catacombs.

Guided walking and bicycle tours are also available whether you are a guest or not. A professionally designed golf course is complimentary for guests of the Castle. Other complimentary activities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, an equestrian center, jaunting cart rides, tennis, fishing, archery, clay target shooting, and even hunting.

The less active guest can marvel at the beautifully landscaped gardens. You can also explore many of the old structures as you walk the grounds. You can spend time climbing the Guinness round tower or explore the underground cave while hiking through the woods.

Ashford Castle Ireland is an ideal base for touring the historic Western region of Ireland. The city of Galway is just south of the castle. Galway is a large port city which offers many fine restaurants and great shopping. Among the must-see-sights are places like Kylemore Abbey and Westport House, Sligo and Drumcliffe Churchyard - the burial place of W.B. Yeats.

Ashford Castle Ireland is located in the town of Cong. The film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, was filmed in Cong and the surrounding area including Ashford Castle.

An Ashford Castle Ireland Vacation is something truly special.
Everyone deserves to experience it at least once in a lifetime.

Ashford Castle can be expensive, of course, but well worth it if you have the means. Besides, you can get great values if you know where to look and when to go.

The off-peak season is between late September and March, and you can save money on every part of your vacation if you choose to travel then, including the expense of staying in Ashford Castle.

Not only will you save money, but you won't have to fight the crowds on your days of sightseeing! Not to mention how lovely the Emerald Isle is around Harvest Time.

Castle photos courtesy of My Guide Ireland

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