It might be some residual sentimental feelings from St.Paddy’s Day or my 1/4 Irish heritage. Either way I have always been drawn to historical Irish Castles. The Ashford Castle is currently a 5 star hotel, but it was built in the 13th century by the Anglo-Norman de Bugos family, after their defeat of the O’Connors of Connaught.
The castle was purchased in the 1859s by Benjamin Guinness and his son Arthur took his title from an island on the lake. The Guinnesses sold it in 1945 (FYI – another Arthur Guinness brewed up Guinness Stout).
The estate offers an array of activities such as golf on th castle’s 9 hole private course, the Ashford Equestrian Centre or fishing the great lake and rivers on the estate. Ashford Castle is among the finest hotels in the country, it played host to actor Pierce Brosnan’s 2004 wedding.
From GalwayFirst.ie:
The hotel is currently owned by a consortium of Irish-American businessmen who bought it over a decade ago.
However the financial consultancy group KPMG has now been asked to value the property as a number of large offers have been made for it. Galway property analysts feel that the castle, reputation, and lands will price it well in excess of €150 million. It costs up to €1,000 a night to stay in the hotel which straddles the county boundary.