Location: Abbey Str, Ashfort Map
Constructed: 1228 by Burgo family
Medieval Ashford Castle stands on Abbey Str,
Ashfort in Ireland. Ashford Castle was erected in 1228 by Burgo
family. Ashford Castle was built on the site of an ancient Irish
monastery in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman feudal lord Burke. The feudal
lords of Burke bore the surname de Burgos in ancient times. The
feudal lords of Burke have owned Ashford Castle for over 300 years.
But then a feud arose between Birko and the English feudal lord Sir
Richard Bingham, which had the title of Lord Connaught. A fierce
battle took place between the troops of these feudal lords, and
ended with a truce. In 1589, the castle went to Richard Bingham,
which strengthened the castle with additional fortifications and
walls.
Dominic Brown of the Brown Clan - Baron Oranmore received Ashford
Castle as a gift from the king in 1670 or in 1678. In 1715, Ashford
Castle was rebuilt by the Brown Clan, a hunting lodge in the style
of 17th-century French castles was built. The double-headed eagles
on the roofs are preserved - the coat of arms of the Brown clan.
At the end of the 18th century, one of the branches of the Brown
clan inhabited this castle. At the beginning of the 19th century,
Thomas Elwood was a castle castel in the service of the Brown clan
and lived in this castle. This is known from the records of 1814.
In 1852, Benjamin Lee Guinness bought the castle and estate. He
completed two large Victorian-style annexes, expanded the estate to
26,000 acres, built new hearse trees, planted thousands of trees.
The castle is mentioned in the book of Sir William Wald on the
County of Galway. After the death of Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1868,
the castle and the manor passed to his son, Lord Ardilown, who
expanded the castle by attaching buildings in the Neo-Gothic style.
The castle and the estate were inherited by Ardilown's nephew Ernest
Guinness. He presented the castle to the Irish government in 1939.
Noel Guggard turned the castle into a luxury hotel. The hotel was
popular with fans of fishing and hunting. Noel Guggart's parents
have worked in the hotel business since 1910. His granddaughters -
Louise and Paula own the hotel to this day.
In 1951, the movie "The Quiet Man" was shot at Ashford Castle with
actors John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in the lead roles. In recent
years, the castle has been used for various films and series on the
theme of the Middle Ages.
In 1970, the castle was bought by John Malkakhi, he completely
restored the castle, expanded, built golf courses, new sites and
built new gardens. In 1985, a group of Irish American investors
became interested in the castle. The castle was sold by investors in
2007 for 50 million euros based on real estate investor Garry
Barrett. Until the loans were paid, the hotel is managed by the
National Asset Agency of Ireland, the hotel was funded by the Bank
of Scotland (Ireland). The hotel is an operating company of the
Tifco Hotel Group. In September 2012, he was recognized as the best
resort in Ireland and the third best hotel in Europe according to
the Conde Nast Travel.
In October 2012, the hotel was put up for sale and was valued at
around 25 million euros. The hotel currently has 83 bedrooms, six of
which are suites. Barrett's plan was to add another 13 penthouses
and 30 lodges, but it was not implemented. In May 2013, the hotel
was bought by Krasnaya Gvozdika Hotel Group, which owns several
other hotels worth 20 million euros. The new owner plans to overhaul
and sell, while maintaining jobs. At the moment, Ashford Castle as a
hotel is constantly profitable.