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Ashford Castle in Ireland - Middle Ages and modernity together

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Ireland is a true leader if count the number of its medieval castles. Due to the destructive power of time, few once majestic structures have survived.

Today, we can find thousands of ancient castles' ruins. Still no matter how much destroyed they, castles continue having a big historical value. They are not just a pride of Ireland but also a big attraction for tourists, especially those which have survived to this day. Some great castles have been perfectly restored and even became hotels or public museums. So, any traveler to Ireland can stay in restored ancient castle-hotel and feel there a spirit of the past.

One of these "highlights" in County Mayo is the medieval Ashford Castle, located on the banks of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, near the village of Cong in the west of Ireland. Ashford Castle became one of the best hotels of the Ireland. It is also intetesting as independent attraction.

The history of Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle was founded on the site of an ancient Irish monastery in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman feudal lord Burke. The founder of the dynasty was William de Burgos, who, in the course of bloody military campaigns, conquered the Irish kingdom of Connacht and in 1203 defeated its rulers, the O'Connors.

Near the castle, there are preserved ruins of majestic Cong Abbey from the time of O'Connors reign. It was a powerful dynasty existing to these days. In this Abbey lived and died the last King of Ireland - Roderick O'Connor.

The feudal lords of Burke held Ashford Castle for over 300 years. The powerful fortress was a safe haven for the family for several centuries. Ireland had to fight for the country's independence very long time, and beautiful ancient Ashford Castle often becamel the center of hostilities. But, nevertheless, the Tudors conquered Ireland.

In 16th century, Lord President Richard Bingham with his forces approached the castle. There were going hard battles that lasted several years, and Ashford Castle finally fell in 1589. Richard Bingham became a new owner and he immediately began to build new strong fortifications.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the castle changed several owners, until in 1852 it was acquired by the Irish entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, the grandson of the founder of the Guinness brewery, whose family owned the castle until 1939. Guinness completed two large Victorian extensions, expanded the 26,000-acre estate, built new driveways, and planted thousands of trees.

In 1939, Ernest Guinness donated Ashford Castle to the Irish government. In the same year, the castle was acquired by Noel Guggard, who turned the old castle into a luxury hotel.

In 1951, the film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, was filmed at Ashford Castle. Ashford Castle and its surroundings feature in many scenes in this Oscar-winning film.

In 1970, Ashford was bought by the American millionaire John Mulcahy, who had previously often been a guest of the castle hotel. A few years later, the restored castle with a renovated garden and park, with a luxurious golf course was named "the best hotel in Ireland and Great Britain" by authoritative publications.

Since then, the castle hotel has changed owners several times, and since 2013 it belongs to the Red Carnation Hotels chain. In the spring of 2015, the Ashford Castle Hotel opened its doors to visitors after another restoration.

Let's look at today's Ashford Castle Hotel. This is a truly majestic building having many battlements, interedting parapets, beautiful galleries, prrfect lancet windows, nice massive fireplaces, many cellars and some secret passages. A bridge over the Kong River adds some charm to the overall landscape. Bridge is decorated with two massive towers looking like from fairy-tale.

If you enter Ashford Castle, you will get surprised by its interiors. They are very impressive. I have not been inside the rooms but our friends told they are furnished with expensive nice furniture, having exquisite wood carvings. There are also many valuable artworks. It is said that design of each hotel room is unique.

Ashford's special attraction is its excellent cuisine. The restaurant is open all year round. In a chic restaurant room guests are offered to try some true masterpieces of native Irish and even international cuisine. During the summer, the restaurant is also open, serving classic French dishes.

I forgot to mention that Ashford is also famous for falconry school. There is a private center for breeding prey birds and it is located not just somewhere near the cadtle but right on the castle's teritory, on the Loch Corrib shore. So tourists are offered rare opportunity to learn taming such birds as owl, desert buzzard, or falcon.

The castle also offers its guests many other activities, such as salmon fishing or horse riding lessons. Tourists can buy cruises on the ferry too.

How we got there? A couple years ago we visited our Irish friends by their invitation. We stayed in their home for three days, and they invited us to visit Ashford Castle where at that time worked their son.

We drove there with car, had a walk around the castle and park and before leaving, went to drink a tea with cake in castle's restourant. We would not affort to stay in this hotel as it is truly too expensive, but we could afford to enjoy their snacks and cakes.

On the final note

Perhaps you've dreamed of spending the night in a real castle, or you've just always wondered what it's like to be royalty. Ashford Castle is exactly a castle where you can stay and feel like royal.

But however, not every tourist can enter this castle's territory and get acquainted with its sights. It can do only guests of the hotel. They can admire its beautiful interior, try delicious meals and meet there some famous celebrities, musicians, and Hollywood stars.