In Wayne’s world
HOTEL WITH CINEMA, SPA, GOLF AND WINE CELLARS
maintained ahead of reopening and we have to flush each of the castle’s 160 toilets every day to make sure everything is working properly.
“There’s chandeliers to be dusted, birds of prey to be tended to and dozens of other little tasks to keep us busy during the day. This has all made the time fly by.”
The Kennedys, the Reagans, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Cash and Brad Pitt have stayed in the stunning medieval castle but they never had the place to themselves like Laura and Michael.
The castle is on the banks of Lough Corrib – Ireland’s second largest lake – and offers an array of country and water sports as well as private cruises, picnics and wine tastings.
Laura, who is in charge of guest services and organises high-end events for their VIP clients, said it has been strange without guests and is looking forward to welcoming them back.
She said: “Initially we were a little bit wary of the place. You hear different floorboards creaking and the wind and the doors. Michael also likes to jump out and startle me when he gets the chance. As time has gone on, it’s started to feel like home.
“Although it’s been fun having the place to ourselves, I have missed the guests. I love my job. Every day is different and you get to meet a lot of very interesting people. One of my favourite parts is helping gentlemen organise surprise proposals for their girlfriends.”
Michael, whose dad is the shooting and archery instructor at Gleneagles, said: “My mum and dad met at Gleneagles and I worked there too when I left school. The hospitality industry is in my blood.
“We came to stay at Ashford in 2006 as a family. My mum’s family are Irish and she had always wanted to stay here so my dad surprised her as a birthday treat. I fell in love with the castle back then and,nd, after working in Mexico and Dubai, I landed my dream job here five years ago and the rest is history.” .”
The former Auchterarderder High School pupil added: “Laurara and I really miss our families. My mum and her sister work for the NHS so we’ve been worried about them.
“My sister is expecting her first baby and I don’t like beingg so far away so, although quarantine antine has been enjoyable for us in this beautiful castle, we will bee glad to see our loved ones.”
Laura said: “Although we are looking forward to seeingg our families and having guests uests again, leaving here will be hard.
“Ashford is due to openn on
July 20, which is my 24th 4th birthday, so Michael will have to find a cracking presentt to make up for us being evicted ted from our fairytale castle.”
Ashford Castle has been voted one of the world’s best luxury hotels.
Standard guest rooms can cost £350 a night, while the presidential suite will set you back £1800.
The former AngloNorman fortress, once owned by the Guinness family, became a hotel in 1939.
Apart from
John Wayne, other guests have included John Lennon, Brad Pitt and JFK.
Ex-US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy stayed there in 1984.
Former Bond star Pierce Brosnan and wife Keely held their wedding reception at the castle in 2001, while Rory McIlroy married publicist Erica Stoll there in 2017.