Southern Ireland Ashford Castle 20098

What a treat to visit Ashford Castle (1228 A.S.), one of the world’s leading luxurious resort/hotels located in Cong, County Mayo, on a 350 acre estate once owned by the Guiness (beer) family who sold it to the state in 1939.
Since the property includes the largest lake in Ireland, Loch Corrib, which feeds into Galway Bay, Kathy and I took a boat tour and saw some of the heavily wooded islands including Inchagoill with monastic ruins from the time that St. Patrick was banished there. Other islands contain eleven families and one island is populated by wild white goats.
After a sumptuous 4 course repast in the George V dining room, we descended into the Dungeon Bar for a sing-along and some night caps.