If you are looking for a cultural and
historic trip to Ireland, a week spent taking
in the Galway Festival is for you. Combine
that with a stay at nearby Ashford Castle,
and you will have found the perfect holiday
retreat brimming with Irish "Craic," as well
as luxury of the highest order. Ashford
Castle is a five-star hotel which in 2017
was named the No.2 Best Resort Hotel in
the UK and Ireland by Travel and Leisure
in their "World's Best" Awards, with a spa
that was Best Spa Runner Up in 2018 at
the Global Spa and Wellness Awards. From
Ireland's capital, Dublin, it's about a three-
hour drive due west to Galway.
Nestled in the small village of Cong in
Co. Mayo, Ashford Castle dates back to the
1200s, with the original castle now housing
some of the guest quarters. The castle
is now part of the Red Carnation Hotel
Group, owned by Stanley and Beatrice
Tollman. On a recent weekend, amateur
jockey and assistant trainer Ross Birkett
(who happens to also be my boyfriend) and
I set out on a sunny day from our Kildare
base with a car whose air conditioning left
