Ireland Observed Newsletter – September 2018
Dear Ireland and Britain Observed Contacts,
Welcome to our first newsletter! We will send occasional updates with our take on places, attractions and experiences in Ireland and Britain, that you won’t find on Google. If you don’t want to receive any updates, you can click here and never hear from us again! 🙁
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Featured Hotel – Ashford Castle, Mayo
When a South African hotelier with unlimited funds gets to spend over $100 m on a 14th century castle, the results can be remarkable. Bea Tollman’s almost over the top restoration of Ashford would have met the approval of Benjamin Lee Guinness. Guinness transformed the Burke’s 14th century tower into something more suitable for a Victorian brewing billionaire, to show off his enormous wealth. Somethings haven’t changed as you still have to be wealthy to stay at Ashford, but for sybaritic self-indulgence it has few rivals.
If you like simple pleasures it may not be perfect, but if luxury is your thing, it is spot on. Falconry, riding, skeet shooting, fishing, golf, billiards, a Spa, ….there is plenty to occupy one between meals. The wolfhounds, Cronan and Garvan, visit every day between 10 and 11. Check out their Instagram account instagram.com/ashford_wolfhounds.
We know a delightful local historian and story teller who can take you on a fascinating and entertaining tour of the village, with its 12th century abbey and 14th century cross.
A souvenir of Ashford? The gift shop beside Cullen’s Cottage has an Ashford Snow Globe (€80)The best of the 85 bedrooms are lake view deluxe and above, which start at around $1000 a night, though prices are set to increase next year. Book early – between May and September the castle rarely has an empty bed!
In 2015 it was rated as Number 1 hotel in the World by Virtuoso. In 2017 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice it was Number 1 Resort Hotel in Ireland and Number 6 Resort Hotel in Europe.
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