Lord of the manor

Garry and I found ourselves with a long weekend sandwiched between a busy week of business meetings in London and a second equally hectic week in Nuremberg. We decided to chance our luck and booked a whirlwind road trip through southern Ireland.  We’d only ever visited Dublin while living in the UK and so the Gaelic nation remained largely unexplored.

Everyone thought we were crazy for booking a weekend in Ireland in the heart of winter.  However, luck was on our side.  We enjoyed blue skies and sunshine on most days. The more inclement days coincided with plans for plenty of driving and thus our time outdoors was limited. It was the perfect way to enjoy an Australia Day weekend so far from home.

We kicked off our road trip in style.  By chance uncovered a special package offered by American Express for a night at Ashford Castle, located 45 minutes north of Galway.  The castle’s origins date back almost eight centuries.  Today it’s an impressive luxury hotel on the shores of Lough Corrib (Lake Corrib).

The castle’s current form was largely crafted by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, owner of the famed Irish brewery.  He worked extensively extending the estate to 26,000 acres, adding two large Victorian-style extensions and bringing much-needed employment to the local area. 

The castle was sold and converted into a premier hotel by Noel Huggard in 1939.  A subsequent owner, John Mulcahy, doubled its size in the 1970s and built an accompanying golf course.  During his tenure, he acquired 11 identical Waterford Crystal chandeliers.  Each cost an extraordinary £11,000 and are still on display in the castle’s fine dining restaurant.

The castle was simply amazing. We dined in its famous George V restaurant (the venison was mouth-wateringly good) and enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast the following morning.  Dinner service required a jacket. Fortunately, the hotel keeps a selection on hand for those diners caught short. 

I also rose early to join a group walking the castle’s resident Irish Wolfhounds.  After breakfast, Garry then joined me for a walk through a section of the immaculately maintained gardens. Our only regret was that we hadn’t splashed out on a second night.  It really was an awesome experience.

Follow this link to read about The Cliffs of Moher, the next stop on our Irish road tour.