Luxurious with old school service: My keep on the Lodge at Ashford Citadel

With its picturesque lakeside setting simply exterior the charming village of Cong, and attentive private service, The Lodge is ideal for a getaway

Fergus McDonnell will get to babysit one of many youthful sheepdogs

Luxurious with old school service: My keep on the Lodge at Ashford Citadel

Impartial.ie

IT’S not The Truman Present – that 1990s sci-fi romp the place Jim Carrey grew up on what was primarily the set of a actuality TV present, a city populated by actors the place Truman Burbank was the one one not in on the key as tv viewers adopted his each transfer.

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IT’S not The Truman Present – that 1990s sci-fi romp the place Jim Carrey grew up on what was primarily the set of a actuality TV present, a city populated by actors the place Truman Burbank was the one one not in on the key as tv viewers adopted his each transfer.

No, Cong is not any Seahaven, nevertheless it does resemble a theme-park devoted to the enduring 1950s Hollywood movie, The Quiet Man. And why not? The setting is nothing wanting beautiful and the quaint streets, pubs and outlets seem untouched since John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara immortalised Sean Thornton and Mary Kate Danaher.

And the locals? Effectively, they are not actors, however they do play their half. Throughout our temporary go to, there was no scarcity of American vacationers following within the footsteps of a few of their most acclaimed residents. And in the event that they drop right into a pub for a glass of one thing and a chew to eat, they will benefit from the feeling of being transported again in time. The straightforward allure of the locals provides to the expertise and in the event that they ever tire of listening to the identical observations or being requested the identical questions, they do not present it.

We weren’t, sadly, blessed with the most effective of climate for our go to to The Lodge at Ashford Citadel, so we had been denied the pleasure of strolling any a part of the 350-acre property, we had been unable to benefit from the nine-hole golf course, cruising on Lough Corrib was a pleasure denied to us and even having fun with the magnificent views needed to be achieved from indoors.

That feels like a little bit of a moist squib you may assume, however you would be flawed. There’s an outdated saying that nobody goes on vacation in Eire for the climate and a barely newer one which hails the three most essential attributes of property as location, location and placement.

So even when the solar refuses to shine, you’ll be able to nonetheless bask within the heat of the hospitality of your hosts. It sounds easy, nevertheless it’s not a simple factor to get proper. The workers at some motels, in an effort to make sure your consolation, generally is a little bit, shall we embrace, overbearing. However not right here.

The Lodge at Ashford Citadel have to be an awesome place to work as a result of the workers by no means give the impression that they might quite be someplace else. They’re out there with out being intrusive, with out seeming to pry and mainly simply being pleasant and useful in a approach that by no means appears compelled.

With our automotive parked for us and our luggage delivered to our room, it was time to settle into our lodging. Our Quay Suite, uniquely designed and furnished and with a separate sitting room, supplied loads of house to stretch your legs. The toilet boasts luxurious services, together with a rainforest bathe that you just will not need to go away, whereas the king-size mattress with down pillows and duvets is the final phrase in consolation.

There are many locations throughout the resort to take a seat and skim or take pleasure in a quiet drink and there’s a selection of consuming choices. Wilde’s Restaurant was voted Resort Restaurant of The Yr in 2018 and affords superb Irish delicacies, whereas the Quay Bar and Brasserie guarantees a extra casual expertise with views over the lake and the consolation of a turf hearth.

The straightforward allure of the workers was prolonged on a visit that took us out in direction of the Connemara Nationwide Park, the place round each bend you see an indication welcoming you to Co Mayo, or again to Co Galway as you straddle the border all the best way to Clonbur on the shores of Lough Nafooey and the Joyce Nation Sheepdogs. If there is a extra spectacular location to dwell and work then we would wish to learn about it.

Joe Joyce can stand at his entrance door and gaze throughout the huge expanse of water to the mountain past that’s house to his 200 sheep.

There was a time when sheep farming would help his household, however these days are over. In an entertaining and informative speak, he informed us that his flock’s fleeces final 12 months yielded the princely sum of €35. That is not €35 every, that is €35 for all 200.

The lambs are usually not far more profitable. He sells them on for round €30 every to be fattened on higher land. So the farm works because of the Authorities and EU subsidies and Joe’s ability as a breeder and coach of border collie sheepdogs. And what a job he does at that.

In a really pleasurable demonstration you get to find out how the canines’ pure herding instincts are harnessed to do what the farmer requires and when he requires it. It is a pleasure to see these animals at work, doing one thing they clearly love and it serves as a useful reminder of the significance of farming to the upkeep of the countryside.

With out the sheep to graze the hillsides, they might shortly change into overgrown, unmanageable and inaccessible to the final inhabitants.

It might not please animal activists or the more and more vegan-leaning cohorts in our society, however this old school meat-eating, fresh-air loving relic of the previous discovered it fascinating and the Individuals, Germans and different nationalities in our group had been clearly enthralled. Our countryside and the individuals who have a tendency it and maintain it alive, is a wealthy and useful useful resource which we should always nurture and cherish for future generations. And nowhere is Eire’s rugged magnificence extra splendid than in our wild west.

The resort had outfitted us with a packed lunch which might have been excellent for a picnic on a sunny day, however sitting within the automotive with the radio on looking over a lake was the subsequent neatest thing.

There are lots of different issues to do throughout an extended keep at The Lodge, together with biking, fishing, falconry clay pigeon taking pictures and archery. However most of all it is merely a super place to get away from all of it and benefit from the peace and quiet of the countryside – whereas we nonetheless have it.

Getting there

Secret Sunday Bundle

Escape to The Lodge at Ashford for some true Irish hospitality. Take pleasure in dinner within the Wilde’s restaurant on Sunday night and a luxurious in a single day keep, adopted by full Irish breakfast the next morning and a light-weight lunch within the Quay Bar earlier than you depart.

Provide Consists of:

• Luxurious in a single day keep

• Eating expertise in Wilde’s restaurant

• Mild lunch within the Quay Bar

• Full Irish breakfast

• Complimentary 1pm late check-out

• Complementary inexperienced charges, nine-hole golf course

Costs per room from €299

NB: This characteristic initially appeared in The Sunday Impartial.

Sunday Impartial