My 40th Birthday at Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle is an 800-year-old castle that sits along Ireland’s second largest lake, Lough Corrib in Western Ireland. The magnificent estate was once home to the Guinness family and now has been run by the same man for 20-years who shows exceptional care and consideration of each guest of the 83-rooms and suites.

From the moment I pulled down the drive, I could just feel why it was named Ireland’s first Forbes Five-Star hotel. The beautifully manicured lawns exude the Irish green you dream about, a 9-hole golf course, dense woods, and vast parkland to host a number of outdoor activities, an equestrian center, lake activities, a world-class spa, an array of restaurants and wine cellar and lounge areas, a billiards room and cinema room, Ashford Castle has something for the whole family.

View of the castle from our morning walk with the hounds.

Even though Ashford Castle warmly welcomes children of all ages, my trip was a mother-daughter getaway for my 40th birthday. After a long evening of an overnight flight into Shannon Airport and then a morning drive to hit the Cliffs of Moher by late sunrise and a scenic drive to the hotel, we arrived at the Castle around noon. We were warmly greeted by the concierge staff, who were already made aware that it was my birthday and went out of their way the entire stay to mention my birthday and congratulate me. They also upgraded my suite to a Lake View room at the top of their towers to give that extra special occasion princess feel. The rooms are immaculately clean and every detail was just beautiful, from the Venetian glass chandeliers, to the heated marble floors in the bathroom to the luxurious melt-in-the-mattress linens on the bed.

As a sober traveler, I felt extremely comfortable at Ashford Castle. They kindly replaced all the alcohol in my mini fridge with my drink of preference (Diet Coke) at no charge. They also had non-alcoholic options beyond beer and mocktails at every restaurant and bar. Dinner on the first evening was a 5-course tasting meal at the George V dining room where formal attire is requested. When I saw the rolling Champagne cart going around, I was a little deflated, but when it got to our table, I was pleasantly surprised that they had a 0.0% Prosecco in the cart as well as red and white wine options on their menu that could be ordered by the glass or bottle. This just elevated my celebratory experience.

Birthday dinner

Activities & offerings

Some of the highlights of our two-night stay at Ashford were the morning Irish Wolfhound walk, a falconry lesson where we got to take out a hawk on a quiet 1.5 hour stroll, a visit to the spa where we got one of the best massages, and a private tour of one of the homes used in the film, The Quiet Man, which sits on the Ashford property, as well as viewing The Quiet Man in the hotel’s cinema with popcorn and candies.

The Quiet Man in their private cinema

There wasn’t enough time in our two-night stay to try everything Ashford Castle has to offer. Beyond the on property activities, they also offer curated excursions that take you off property to visit local artisans, hike in the national park, learn about whiskey making, taste your way through different foods, and much more.

My first falconry lesson

The small village of Cong is a 5-minute drive from the Castle, just outside the gates where they can give you a lift. Cong is a quaint little village full of shops and restaurants that have you feeling like you are in a traditional Irish village. While there, don’t miss a chance to eat in the famous Cohan’s Pub where the iconic “fight scene” took place in The Quiet Man. And don’t worry—they have 0.0 Guinness from the tap.

Channeling Maureen O'Hara

It was a quick trip to Ashford Castle because they were rented out for a wedding following our stay, so we had to leave, otherwise we definitely would’ve stayed at least an extra night. I would say a three-night stay at Ashford is perfect for a relaxing time to rest, restore, and renew.

Gentle giants—unless there is an animal they spot.

• Fly into Shannon Airport if possible. It is about an hour and a half from the airport.

• Book your spa and falconry appointments well in advance as they fill up quickly.

• The George V dining room is formal attire and requests jackets for men, but the other dining areas are smart casual.

• Wellies, umbrellas, and raincoats are provided by Ashford in times of need, especially for the Wolfhound walks.

• Non-alcoholic options available in all dining and bar areas.

• Children of all ages are welcome. Comfortable high chairs available in the dining room.

• Recommended to make a reservation for breakfast if you plan on eating in the dining room.

• Some areas of the castle may be tight for wheelchair access.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Ireland page.