King Of Your Castle

Ireland is famous for celebrating St. Patrick's Day, leprechauns, the band U2 and its castles. Most of these in modern Ireland have been converted into hotels. feBusiness Traveller walks you through the glory of Ashford Castle

It is just before noon as we motor down the long tree lined driveway, which leads up to Ashford Castle. The air is nippy and we are wearing light woolens. And the first sight of the grand and stately architecture of Ashford, located deep in the heartland of Mayo and set against a spectacular backdrop of forests, lakes and mountains, seems to suggest a place where time stands still. But the castle you see today has witnessed enormous change since its foundation nearly eight centuries ago.

We arrive at the main entrance and are led into the George V room, named following the visit of the Prince of Wales, who subsequently became George V of England. We feast on scones and honey with mulberry muffins and piping hot coffee in the luxuries that were afforded by the erstwhile Kings. While we take a tour of the property, we are informed that history has recorded some of Ashford Castle's traditions in gracious hospitality, and today the staff at the castle aims at enhancing the reputation that they have enjoyed since 1228.

The castle was one of many built by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family and has changed hands a few times in its tryst with becoming one of the best hotels in Ireland. We meander down the stately corridors to our well-appointed rooms. The grandeur of the facility is stunning and the rooms leave one amazed with the juxtaposition of antique charm with modern day conveniences. Most people, who would imagine a castle, would think of a large, dark structure of grey stone. A gloomy picture could be painted with a heavy almost musty air lingering in the huge halls and the long corridors.

In Ashford Castle though the interiors of the edifice immediately shake up the image and create a fresh painting of charm, elegance and suavity, perfectly portrayed in one large canvas. The five kinds of rooms include the standard room, the deluxe room, the junior suite, the stateroom and suites. Each type of room is adequately supplied with amenities required by business travellers and leisure travellers alike. The large floor space in the deluxe rooms offers a well-laid out room with large chairs and beds. The most important aspect though is the large French window, offering astounding views of the manicured gardens, the River Cong or Lough Corrib. The antique furnishings and oil paintings add to the ambience of luxury and comfort.

An Old World charm artistically lights up the interiors with large chairs and wooden paneling while catering to the perceptiveness of the needs of a modern day business traveller. The elegance of the interiors of the castle are so breathtaking that one would fail to explore the various other opportunities such as fishing on Lough Corrib, equestrian pursuits, golf, falconry and trail walking which are equally impressive. For modern day business moguls, conferencing facilities are adequate with the Ardilaun Room that can accommodate between 75 and 120 people. For smaller conferences, the Connaught Room captures the perfect environment for discussing million dollar deals or in retrospect making everyone feel like a million dollars.

For the weary business traveller, the Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar, The Dungeon Bar and the internationally acclaimed wine cellar are perfect venues for unwinding. The Dungeon Bar in the evening entertains guests with renditions from their resident harpist or features an Irish show including ballads and storytelling.

After having a fill of a sumptuous meal and reminisced history, we get back to the cosy quarters of the palatial rooms. The rooms are really impressive and the fact that the castle has welcomed and entertained its fair share of celebrities and public figures over the years - Members of Europe's royal families, political figures, industrialists and film stars is attestation enough. The list of personalities is endless and is a veritable list of who's who of royalty in their own right from across the world. Pierce Brosnan, Jack Nicholson, Omar Sharif, Russell Crowe, Fred Astaire, John Wayne, Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Barbra Streisand amongst personalities from Hollywood; U2, Joan Baez, John Travolta, Rod Stewart amongst the musicians have patronised Ashford Castle. Prince Edward, George V of England, Princess Grace, The Duke and Duchess of Luxemborg among royalty and former President of the United States of America Ronald Reagan, the list goes on.

It is no wonder that one departs from the castle feeling like a King, no matter how short the stay.