Mayo
A 13th-century castle, the West's wildest coast, and a horizon that hasn't changed.
Courtesy of Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo
County Mayo is Ireland's wild west — Atlantic cliffs, peat bogs that have held bodies since the Iron Age, and a landscape so empty Hollywood used it for "The Quiet Man" and never had to remove a single overhead wire. At the south-west corner stands Ashford Castle, parts of which date to 1228, sold by the Guinness family to a hotelier who restored every grace it ever had. The grounds run to 350 acres along Lough Corrib, and on a still morning, the only sound is a falconer at work on the lawn.
May-September; June for late-light evenings
3-5 nights recommended
History Buffs, Romantic Getaways, Multi-Generation Trips, Heritage Travelers
A castle hotel and a coast of country houses where the West of Ireland is treated like the resource it is.
Ashford Castle
A 13th-century castle on Lough Corrib, restored by the Tollman family to Forbes Five-Star standard.
- Falconry school on the grounds
- Lakeside spa
- Estate cinema and billiard room
The Lodge at Ashford Castle
A more relaxed sister property within the Ashford estate.
- Cong village access
- Family-friendly
- Same estate amenities
Mount Falcon Estate
A 100-acre Georgian country estate near Ballina.
- Atlantic salmon fishing
- Walled kitchen gardens
- Estate-grown produce
Ashford Castle
Courtesy of Ashford Castle Hotel & Country Estate · Fora Travel
Estate Aerial
The Great Hall
The Connaught Room
Castle Suite
Lough Corrib
Atlantic seafood, lamb from the Mayo highlands, and a country-house dining tradition kept exactly where it was.
- Dinner at George V dining room, Ashford Castle — a room unchanged in spirit since 1939
- Lobster lunch at The Cliff House overlooking Killary Fjord
- Wild Atlantic oysters at Misunderstood Heron near Leenane
- A pint in Pat Cohan's Bar in Cong, where The Quiet Man was filmed
Cliffs, peat, lake mist, and a part of Europe that never quite caught up with the rest.
- The Cliffs of Achill at golden hour — Europe's highest sea cliffs, no railing, no crowd
- Falconry at dawn on Ashford's estate — a Harris's hawk on your glove
- Walking out to Doolough valley after a rainstorm — the lake holds the sky
- Croagh Patrick at first light — a pilgrim climb older than most countries
Luxury Properties in County Mayo
Exceptional properties in County Mayo, selected for their distinction and service
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