welltraveledbrit

I'm often in Dublin visiting my mother but I don't see much of Ireland beyond the obligatory family visiting so I don't post about my trips here on Fodors. However on my last trip I decided to take my mother away for a couple of days and I was curious to try Ashford Castle - which underwent a hugely expensive renovation and reopened to great acclaim last year. For me the attraction was that although we were making a winter visit the hotel has great indoor spaces and I thought there would be enough there to amuse us for a couple of days. My mother knows the area well and was happy to relax at the hotel rather than sightsee. Of course the fact that we could visit family on the way there and back was an added bonus, and because this is Ireland my cousin did of course find us a "connection" at the hotel!

Anyway just to say I highly recommend it. Yes there was a moment when I heard "Danny Boy" being sung in the bar and I thought I might died from an attack of the cliches (clearly they know their overseas clientele) but I have to say it was a VERY nice stay. It's just a beautiful property and the service is excellent, they went out of their way to make my mother comfortable. The other guests were very friendly, lots of locals at this time of the year and they had some lovely live music in the lounge at night.

I highly recommend a Lough Corrib view room.

Lots more including lots of pictures on my blog

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2016/...e-ireland.html

Cathinjoetown

Good to read this. I went there a few times for lunch, always very good, because I lived at the east end of the Corrib. This was 20 years ago and it could have used a rennovation then.

Small claim to infamy, I hit the hotel manager's dog, it darted out in front of me, I had time to swerve so the bumper just grazed it. I was in floods of tears, the locals were telling me not to worry, it was the dog's fault, etc. but I reported it to the guarda in Cong (they thought I was nuts). The dog had run off but someone phoned me later that it made it home and wasn't injured.


So, thanks for letting us know they did a good job of it. Would love to go again. Small feature about Ashford in today's NY Travel section.

Cathinjoetown

NY Times Travel section

welltraveledbrit

HI cathinjoetown - interesting to read your story and glad to hear the dog got home safely .
Funny the gaurda were nonplussed but I;m not in the least surprised! My mother had a great aunt in that part of Ireland and she had a dog for many years, I asked my mother what the dog was called and she said the only thing her aunt had had every said to it was "come dog" and "go dog". I guess there was no need for a name!

I saw the small piece on castles and the lovely pic in the NYT today. Interestingly when it was sold and refurbished they kept the staff and many people have been working there for decades.

flpab

Wow, did the matching wall paper and bedspread drive you bonkers by the time you left? I had a freind whose Mum did that. Everything matched, curtains, wallpaper and bedspread. I hope to see this next visit, maybe have a drink there at least. Great pictures as usual.

welltraveledbrit

Lol, flpab!
Actually no, the room looked amazing in person and there were lots of things that shouldn't have gone together but they worked! Certainly worth popping in for a drink if you "happen " to be in Cong !!!

Cathinjoetown

I wish I could find a photo I took about 15 years ago at La Ferme Saint Siméon outside Honfleur. My friend was dressed in a pink paisley top which perfectly matched the chair, the walls, the ceiling, the bedstead and two fabric-covered panels on the door. Like being inside an upset stomach.

welltraveledbrit

Ha Cathinjoetwon, there's a great Instagram account that shows people wearing outfits to match the art, very fun!

Just to say I've added a blog post on the spa, it's really worth seeing the tilework around the pool, it's 3 d and done by a South African ceramicist. I think this is the nicest indoor pool I've seen.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2016/...rd-castle.html

taconictraveler

WEll done, and thanks for all the photos of the castle and the pool. We stayed at Ashford many, many years ago, when it was still owned by an Irish-American whose name I can't remember - but he also had a house in our town in the Hudson Valley. It must have been in the early 80's.

It was very very elegant, but I would imagine it did need some refurbishing. We loved being there and the area all around. Thanks for bringing back good memories.

TDudette

Gorgeous photos! Will return later for reading at leisure.