Photography provided by Ashford Castle
If you’re a travel lover like me, you know that trips — with their checklists of landmarks to see and museums to visit — can often become more draining than they are fulfilling. Rather than stand in line for a glimpse of a famous painting behind glass (no offense, Ms. Lisa), most of us yearn for a more intentional experience abroad that’s both enriching and invigorating. Enter luxury historical hospitality, a purely immersive escape where the past is present and where heritage is alive and tangible.
Nestled in a cozy bay of Lough Corrib just north of Galway, Ireland, lies Ashford Castle. This one-time medieval fortress — the original thick stone walls from 1228 are still standing — has been passed from owner to owner for centuries, undergoing several evolutions and expansions along the way. By the 1860s, it belonged to the famed Guinness family, who added a layer of Victorian opulence and ushered in an era of lavish entertaining. Today, as a five-star hotel, the palace invites guests to walk through a living history of luxury, leisure and legacy.
In a place that predates the first mechanical clock, time isn’t measured in minutes but in moments. From the instant I entered through Ashford’s grand stone gates, something shifted. My chauffeur was no longer a car but a carriage, the rhythmic trot of hooves carrying me to my red-carpet welcome. With its Camelot-esque exterior and calm, welcoming ambiance, this place demanded a new (yet old) mindset. The invitation was clear: slow down. I inhaled that crisp Irish pine scent and took the rare opportunity to disconnect from technology and just exist.
Surrounded by rich tapestries, antique furniture and gilded portraits, I could sense the eras that existed long before my arrival echoing through the castle’s halls. But the allure of staying in an 800-year-old castle is more than just the setting. “We bring centuries of history to life, weaving traditions and time-honored customs into the guest experience,” explains Managing Director Niall Rochford. Because Ashford’s storied heritage is infused into every occasion, daily activities (such as the ancient form of falconry) are transformed into inimitable engagements that create a profound connection between person and place.
The ultimate historic getaway, I’ve come to realize, blends Old World charm with modern-day comfort. In the castle’s oldest wing, the Kennedy Suite radiates this elegance. Hand-carved cherubs sit atop a stately four-poster bed outfitted with 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. Magnificent marble floors adorn the bathroom, heated to perfection. Giant neo-Gothic windows afford sweeping lake views, while electric blinds offer ease and privacy. Featuring world-class accommodations alongside the recently renovated Éalú wellness center and award-winning spa, the hotel boasts the best of both worlds — then and now living in perfect harmony.
One evening in the regal George V Dining Room (which was built specifically for the Prince of Wales’ one-week stay at the castle in 1905), I savored a heavenly five-course meal featuring smoked salmon rillettes, halibut sea spaghetti and a tayberry soufflé crafted with ingredients grown in the property’s impressively bountiful organic garden. My dining companion, Marketing Director Regina O’Donoghue, captured the magic of the estate in six simple words: “This place is a love story.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. From the meticulous restoration of its centuries-old foundations to the genuine devotion of its staff, love emanates throughout Ashford Castle, which manages to encapsulate that elusive feeling of home away from home.
The best kind of travel leaves you irreversibly impacted, as if the destination has left an imprint on your soul. Luxury historical hospitality delivers this fully: an authentic, one-of-a-kind stay that replaces obligatory sightseeing with profound moments that will stay with you for years to come.
