Memories of Ashford Castle and its bright future
By Tom Gillespie
TWENTY-two years ago (August 26, 1998) the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, uttered the immortal words: ‘Mayo is Magic’.
He was guest of the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, at a conference at sun-drenched Ashford Castle, Cong, when, while addressing the press corps, he said the three words that were magic to tourism chiefs across the country and have been used ever since to market the county.
Photographer Frank Dolan and I were covering the event for The Connaught Telegraph and we recorded the event, in words and pictures.
Security was strict but somewhat laid back compared to when the US secret service oversaw security around the two-night visit in 1984 of United States President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy.
The VIP couple stayed in some of the castle’s most sumptuous quarters, with a roaring fireplace, elegant antique portraiture and a stunning George III-style four-poster bed.
The Reagan Presidential Suite neighbours the Kennedy Suite, and the two can be combined to create a private three-bedroom wing.
During his stay at Ashford Castle, President Reagan received an honorary degree from the then University College Galway.
I was part of the press corps then covering the visit and we had to be security checked as we entered the castle prior to the President’s departure by helicopter to Galway. We were ushered out of the estate and had to while away a few hours in downtown Cong.
When we heard the helicopter return were made our way back to the castle but at the main gates, each and every press man and woman was individually searched again.
Photographers had to unscrew the telephoto lens from their cameras to satisfy the security personnel that a gun was not concealed in the said cameras.
This procedure delayed the press corps arriving in time at the castle for the helicopter touchdown, thereby missing out on vital footage.
One of the incidents I remember was that a security net placed across the Cong River caused a bit of excitement as divers went to investigate something that had crashed into it, only to discover that a fine salmon had become entranced in the anti-terrorist mesh.
Though missing the arrival of the President’s helicopter, there was a compensation an hour or two later for the photographers. After departing the castle, the press gang assembled in one of the local hoteliers to compare notes only to be informed that Nancy Reagan was walking into Cong along the route to the abbey.
Thankfully, she obliged the photographers and posed for a few minutes, and everyone departed the village happy with their images and quotes.
Around then, renowned composer Phil Coulter arrived at the gates of the 800-year-old castle and was refused entrance, only to retreat to Mellotte’s of The Neale where he entertained regulars in the bar.
In recent years the five-star Ashford Castle was taken over by the Red Carnation Hotel Group, who have invested heavily in the upgrade of property which is set in 350 acres on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib.
Dating back to 1228, the castle, under general manager Niall Rochford now enters a new chapter in its history as part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection.
With 82 guest rooms, a wealth of activities and thoughtful touches, the castle is the most luxurious hotels in Europe.
Following an extensive renovation and enhancement programme since joining Red Carnation Hotels, Ashford Castle has been restored to its former glory, seamlessly blending timeless elegance and antique furnishings with the latest modern amenities that guests would expect from a property of its calibre.
Red Carnation Hotels are a collection of 17 family-run, award-winning boutique hotels in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA.
Each hotel is a landmark of history and tradition. From the recently restored Ashford Castle to the Milestone, a historic mansion hotel in the heart of London, to the truly iconic Oyster Box in South Africa, their hotels are unique and characterful with a personal approach to hospitality.
The Ashford Castle business emerged from receivership in 2013 after Red Carnation Hotels paid €20 million for the resort. A €100 million restoration at the lakeside hotel included the addition of a 30-seater cinema and a spa.
This year, as with all hotels, Covid-19 has greatly impacted on business. Over the years the castle has played host to many notable guests, including: the Prince of Wales (later King George V) and his Consort, the future Queen Mary; John Lennon; George Harrison; Oscar Wilde (whose father, Sir William Wilde, had an estate adjacent to Ashford, where the writer spent much of his childhood); Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; US Senator Ted Kennedy; Robin Williams; Brad Pitt; Pierce Brosnan, who got married there; Prince Rainier of Monaco and Princess Grace.
Professional golfer Rory McIlroy married Erica Stoll there in April 2017.
The grounds of Ashford Castle, Cong and various locations in Mayo and Galway were where the iconic Quiet Man was filmed in 1952 and its stars, John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Victor McLagen, and director, John Forde, stayed in the luxury castle.
The Quiet Man won the Academy Award for best director for Ford, his fourth, and for best cinematography. In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’.