Ireland’s West coast is a labyrinth of landscapes that evolve with every passing hour, winding roads flanked by traditional stone walls, a magnificent coastline of dashing waves and expansive walks and pretty villages and towns awash with character and charm.

And nestled in the West is the county of Mayo, the birthplace of Ireland’s first female President and home to one of the most historic and spectacular five-star hotels in Ireland, Ashford Castle, the only hotel in Ireland to have earned a Five-Star Forbes Travel Guide Ranking.

Niall Rochford, general manager at Ashford Castle, invites you to take a look around the hotel and the 350-acre estate that envelops the castle, where guests have been enjoying exceptional levels of hospitality for more than 80 years:

The adventure begins as you enter the grand stone gates of the 800-year-old castle and former home to the renowned Guinness family. As you turn the final corner you will be greeted by a lone piper who will escort you over the stone drawbridge that leads you to the imposing castle that belies the warm welcome that awaits.  Sitting majestically by the shores of Lough Corrib, Ashford Castle is surrounded by ancient Irish woodland and beautifully manicured lawns, over which your footprints are sure to pass during the next two days of your Luxury Gold stay.

As you ascend the stone steps to the hotel’s entrance, you will discover exquisite interiors and beautifully appointed drawing rooms and dining areas where the temptation will be to sit back, relax, enjoy a drink and marvel at the magnificent views afforded by the gleaming high windows adorning every room.  And why not do just that before embarking on your next adventure, which might just include one of the more than 30 outdoor activities on the estate from which you can choose. 

Returning from the crisp, fresh Mayo air you can transcend to an air of tranquility and relax in the hotel’s award-winning spa from where you will leave feeling nurtured and pampered following a heavenly spa experience.

Dining is always an experience at Ashford Castle where our team of executive chefs selects the finest local, seasonal produce to create their culinary magic. Your first evening will be spent at Cullen’s at the Cottage, a quaint but elegant traditional thatched cottage that was once Cong Cinema, where locals enjoyed a viewing of Hollywood blockbuster, The Quiet Man.  Now, you will enjoy a selection of international and local dishes, including the finest fresh seafood and recipes inspired by our owner, Beatrice Tollman.

After a restful sleep and a sumptuous breakfast of local delights and home-baked treats, head to the great outdoors – without ever having to leave the estate.  Watch our Hawks soar through the air with a visit to Ireland’s first school of falconry or take to the air yourself and zip-line through the woods for an exhilarating encounter. Other estate activities include golf and horse-riding, fishing and archery and you can even start your day with a morning walk with our long-standing ‘residents’, Cronan and Garvan, a magnificent pair of Irish Wolfhounds, who are very much a part of our family.

Your second evening bestows an incredible sense of occasion as we invite you to the spectacular George V Dining Room, built specially for a visit to the estate by King George V in 1905. A more formal affair, the focus in our fine dining restaurant is on locally produced artisan ingredients, often complemented by seasonal produce foraged on the estate.

Round-off proceedings with a movie in our private cinema, enjoy a cocktail or post prandial in the Prince of Wales bar, or retire to the Billiards Room for a specialty Irish whiskey or artisan gin.  

Each of our guest rooms is individually appointed and designed to sensitively combine the castle’s original features with life’s modern luxuries. Beautiful bedding, sumptuous fabrics, Egyptian Cotton bed linen and a choice of pillow type will ensure a dream-like sleep at the end of a memorable stay.

When you join us at Ashford Castle you will be beautifully looked after by a team that is passionate about caring for our guests, who are always made to feel part of the extended Ashford Castle family.

But, as a Luxury Gold guest you are already part of the family, and we look forward to welcoming you to Ashford Castle where an extra special welcome awaits.

If interested in visiting Ireland and staying at Ashford Castle view our Ultimate Ireland or Castles & Kingdoms itineraries

Ashford Castle is part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, and one of the 42 family-owned and run ‘TTC Family Of Brands’.

President & Founder Beatrice Tollman has built Red Carnation Hotels with a vision for service excellence and a passion for generous hospitality. Today the collection proudly stands at 20 exceptional properties around the world, each unique and special, whilst sharing the founding values that define the family-owned and run business.

The hotel collection is lovingly named after the signature flower Mrs. Tollman’s husband always wears, and this symbol of hospitality is also worn by every member of the team.

April 2020 marks 50 years since Earth Day was established to shed light on the global environmental decline phenomenon. Today, our world is facing one of the most challenging periods of our generation. The news cycle can be a source of confusion and anxiety for many of us, with ‘uncertainty’ truly being the only certainty. April brings on Spring for many around the world and Earth Day for all, and this year more than ever we need good news, the celebration of progress, and above all hope. 

 This Earth Month we’re celebrating our beautiful planet and all of the incredible life it sustains.  While we get grounded both literally and figuratively as the world hits pause to focus on the COVID-19 crisis, it’s important now more than ever to acknowledge that our work isn’t done, our work must not stop and most importantly, to appreciate how far we’ve come. Progress is often overlooked so this year, let’s take inspiration from our journey so when life as we know it resumes and our world is set back into motion, we’re ready to act. 

On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, let’s focus on progress and hope. Let’s think about how modest actions can turn into movements and remember gradual progress matters.  

 Five decades later, here are five reasons Earth Day was started: 

5. To unite people who care about the planet, wildlife, and people 

In the years and decades leading up to the first Earth Day in April of 1970, Americans were living in conditions detrimental to their personal wellbeing and that of the planet. There was little consequence for the companies and organizations contributing to the environmental crisis. 

 After witnessing a massive oil spill in California in 1969, US Senator Gaylord Nelson was driven to do something. He was inspired by the student anti-war movement to mobilize against environmental destruction. As a response to these unacceptable conditions, the first Earth Day was a protest to demand a better future for us and the generations to come.  

 It started on the ground with a limited number of people who organized and rallied behind an important cause. The situation was dire and the message inarguably resonated with the masses because on April 22, 1970, 20 million people in America (10% of the population at the time,) took to the streets in protest.  

 Just months after the protest, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in the US, which would go on to regulate threats to the environment such as auto emissions, Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT), toxic waste, plastic pollution and much more.  

4. To hold policy makers accountable 

On that day half a century ago, 20 million people demanded change. So much can be accomplished when humanity comes together and joins forces peacefully.  

This event is credited as the beginning of a wave of environmental action. It was the force behind the passage of many landmark laws in the US including the “Clean Air Act” and the “Clean Water Act,” as well as animal protections laws such as the “Endangered Species Act” and the “Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act” which protects whales, dolphins, seals and manatees. 

3. To start a movement 

The modern environmental movement that followed is thanks to this first ever organization of Earth Day. In 1990, Earth Day went global and mobilized 200 million people in 141 countries, and today it is recognized as the world’s largest civic event. 

In 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This was the third Earth Summit, a meeting of world leaders every 10 years that started in 1972. It was here that many countries agreed to begin working together to address climate change, and achieved an agreement on the Climate Change Convention, which led to the Kyoto Protocol that same year, and eventually the Paris Agreement. 

2. To make the future of our planet a priority 

Following the USA’s lead of policy creation in response to the movement, many countries soon followed suit. Symbolically, the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 as the day the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed. Today, 187 countries are still formally committed to the agreement, though progress on commitments has been slow. 

1. To give YOU a platform  

Throughout the years there have been many change-makers in the fight for climate action and the environment. Some are prominent, outspoken leaders and others are quieter grass-roots organizations and individuals and every one is vital. While the work doesn’t begin and end in April, Earth Month a reminder that we must all stand and do our part.  

Let’s look at the last 50 years of activism to fuel and empower our momentum, inspire us to join forces across borders, and remember that we can and must do more. 

Source: earthday.org  

No two things evoke excitement quite like a good book and travel. One allows you to mentally transport yourself into a fascinating new realm, while the latter allows you to physically head to the destination. Pair the two together and you have a formula strong enough to inspire even the most timid of travelers.