WAYNE’S WORLD
They have the run of a luxurious castle, the pick of 83 bedrooms and date nights watching movies in a private cinema.
It’s no wonder that lockdown for Michael Smith and girlfriend Laura Jamieson feels like a Hollywood movie.
The couple, who both work at Ashford Castle in Ireland, are the only staff at the five-star hotel, famous as a venue for celebrity weddings and John
Wayne’s Oscar-winning film The Quiet Man. And it’s where estate manager Michael , 28, from Auchterarder, Perthshire, and duty manager Laura, 23, from Ockham, Surrey, fell in love.
Michael said: “It’s been surreal. We’ve been incredibly fortunate that we were able to have this experience. It’s the most incredible place and, although we have been here for nearly three months, the novelty still hasn’t worn off.
“We moved in at the end of March and have been in ourou own little bubble ever since. It’s like bbeing in a TV reality show sho that nobody’s watching. wa Our working day often ends with a visit to the school of falconry to check on the owls and hawks. And, on our weekly date night, we take a bottle of wine, a pick ‘n’ mix and some popcorn to the cinema. It’s been magic.
“We feel like we are starring in our own Disney movie, with me as the prince and Laura as my princess. But, to be honest, folk are more likely to mistake me for Shrek.”
Laura said: “We’re finding out stuff not only about work but about each other. It’s something we’ll look back on with fond memories.
“We met and fell in love at Ashford Castle but spending time here with just the two of us has made it even more special.
“Stars Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne stayed here when they were making The Quiet Man and the movie was filmed in the grounds of the castle and in the surrounding countryside. I suppose, in a way, we are living out our own Hollywood movie.”
Ashford boasts a 350-acre estate with a 32- seater cinema, spa, golf course, tennis courts and wine-tasting tunnels.
It may seem like a fairytale but the couple admit it’s not all as glamorous as it may sound. They usually live in the nearby village of Cross and commute to work.
But during lockdown, they moved in and have spent the past 10 weeks living in the County Mayo castle, maintaining the buildings and ensuring it will be ready for reopening. They’re responsible for keeping the massive property clean – vacuuming, flushing 160 toilets and dusting chandeliers.
Michael, who worked at luxury hotel Gleneagles before moving to Ireland, said: “There is lots to be done. The admin hasn’t stopped and we are constantly on the phone taking bookings and answering questions from future guests.
“There are 83 bedrooms to be