Entering the castle is like stepping into a living museum. There was a roaring stone fireplace, mahogany wood beams, chandeliers, and large, hundred-year-old portrait paintings hanging on the walls. I took a deep breath and whispered to Ann, one of my fellow travelers, “Holy crap, this place is unreal.”
She smiled at me, “The looks are only one part of what makes this place so amazing. They’re known for their attentive service.”
Ann had been to the castle many times and had become friends with much of the staff, including the feisty Paula Carroll, the castle’s Director of Marketing.
Paula showed us to our rooms, walking us through the grand two-story living room, and up a stairwell filled with historical artifacts and ornate statues. My room was first. It was one of the oldest rooms in the entire castle, and it was stunning.
The Room Where the Author Stayed
Photo Courtesy Ashford Castle
When Paula opened the door, my jaw dropped. The ceiling must have been almost twenty feet high; the walls were covered in a plush, ornate wallpaper; there was a fireplace in the corner, which was already burning to warm the room; an enormous king-size bed; and furniture that all looked like actual antiques. Out my windows I could see the misty Lough Corrib (lough is lake in Gaelic) and the silhouettes of mountains in the distance.
Gently placed on the bed was a bottle of champaign and a box of chocolates, which are made on-site by the castle’s very own pastry chef and chocolatier.
I turned around, speechless. My mouth just hung open, unable to form a single word. Paula laughed. “Enjoy the room!” she said as she closed the door to lead the rest of the group to their rooms.
In the bathroom, an enormous marble bathtub sat in front of a window that overlooked the lake. On the other end of the bathroom (yes, the bathroom was so big that it had an “other end” to it) was a rainfall shower that was big enough to easily fit six people. Since I had a bit of time to spare, I decided to freshen up after the long flight. I turned the shower on, stepped in, and got lost in the absolute divinity of my room.
The next morning, I was awoken by daylight shining through my windows. Outside I could see a light fog over the lake, and a couple walking along the castle grounds. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect way to wake up.
The Connaught Room
Photo Courtesy Ashford Castle
At breakfast, I once again found myself lost in disbelief. I personally believe that breakfast is the best meal of the day. How can you beat omelets and pancakes served alongside a freshly steeped pot of tea? At Ashford, the breakfasts are fit for royalty. For starters, my tea was the castle’s very own Irish Breakfast blend, which is steeped directly at your table. You then have an entire menu complete with classics like oatmeal topped with Irish whiskey, French toast, and Eggs Benedict. Plus, there’s an entire buffet stocked with freshly baked Irish soda bread and brown bread (served with local butter and house-made jam), cheese platters, sliced fruit, just-squeezed juices, and more.
It was March, the world was contemplating shutting down because of COVID, and I had a choice to make: do I watch my figure or live like this is the last trip I’ll be taking for a long time? I chose to eat my brains out, and in retrospect, what a marvelous decision that was. This trip would prove to be the last moment of normality and excitement I’d have for an entire year.
That afternoon was filled with shooting clay pigeons (a task I’m proud to say I was actually good at) and enjoying the castle’s “hawk walk.” The castle has their own world-renowned school of falconry, and guests at the castle can be guided through the forest with trained falcons. The experience was stunning and majestic.
