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Ashford Castle Review
Read our Western Ireland with Galway hotel reviews. Or post your own.
Ashford Castle
- Address: Cong, Co. Mayo
- Phone: 094/954-6003
- Fax: 094/954-6260
- www.ashford.ie
- Price range: $$$$
- Location: Cong
Fodor's Review:
Nearly bigger than the neighboring village of Cong, this famed mock-Gothic baronial showpiece was built in 1870 for the Guinness family and has been wowing visitors ever since -- that is, if your guest list runs to Prince Rainier, John Travolta, and Jack Nicholson. Massive, flamboyantly turreted, built of stone with towers and bridges, crenellations and mullioned windows, Ashford is the very picture of a romantic Irish castle. As a world apart from the normal hubbub of Irish life, it remains strong on luxury, charm, and good service, but -- some pundits would say -- light on authenticity as time-stained charm has given way to too many creature comforts. Still, this is the reason why Pierce Brosnan took over the whole castle for two days for his wedding to Keely Shaye Smith, and it remains a popular destination with honeymooners from all over the world. The 82 bedrooms include presidential and executive suites -- and for once the name isn't just hopeful, as presidents of both the United States (Reagan, on his trip back to his ancestral homeland) and France have stayed here. Inside, large paintings in gilt frames hang from the castle's carved stone walls above polished wood paneling, illuminated by crystal chandeliers. Deluxe rooms have generous sitting areas, heavily carved antique furniture, open fireplaces and extra-large bathrooms. Standard bedrooms in the discreetly added new wing are smaller, with marble bathroom fittings and Victorian-style antiques, have ample amenities but lack the scale and baronial flamboyance of the rest of the castle. The suites in the original castle building are vast, with double-height windows, furnished with Georgian antiques, and blissfully comfortable. The Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar (named for the one who visited in the 1890s) is the venue for elegant predinner drinks. The cuisine, by distinguished Swiss chef, Stefan Matz, is stylish and unfussy, showcasing fresh local ingredients. The hotel makes the most of its superb location at the head of Lough Corrib and the surrounding formal lawns and gardens are possibly the most neatly manicured outdoor space in Ireland. Accordingly, fly-fishing is a popular outdoor sport, and the river bank has recently been landscaped to facilitate anglers -- typical of the no-expense-spared Ashford approach -- while there has also been massive investment in the hotel's spa facilities.
- Hotel Details: 72 rooms, 11 suites
- In-room: no a/c, Internet, Wi-Fi.
- In-hotel: 2 restaurants, golf course, tennis courts, bars, gym, bicycles.
- Rate includes: European Plan
- Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
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