VUE

S ome may recognize its sprawling gardens and its gilded halls: the Castle has served as the set for movies and series such as John Ford's 1951 film, The Quiet Man, and the CW series Reign, which made heavy use of both the castle grounds and the nearby village of Cong in its depiction of the French Court. And it is easy to see why movie studios would be attracted to Ashford Castle: with its beautiful of medieval and neogothic architecture, it's beautiful gardens and romantic lakefront views, it has the just right amount of Old World elegance and charm to dazzle any production company. Its historical pedigree is also impeccable. The original structure was built on the perimeter of a monastic site by the Irish off-shoot of the Anglo-Norman aristocratic House of Burke over seven centuries ago, in 1228 – and indeed, it remained under the same house for three centuries, until it was passed onto the hands of the English aristocracy following a series of battles that were part of the British colonization campaign in Ireland. Visitors and guests can see much of the original castle today: the thick stone walls, towers, and battlements are still standing thanks to careful upkeep. However, discerning observers may also notice that, while awe-inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful, the Ashford Castle is compound composed of several distinct architectural styles. As it is not uncommon for a building with such a long history, the Ashford Castle has gone through some changes – specifically expansions – throughout the centuries, but most notably in the mid-1800s, after the estate was purchased by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness from the Encumbered Estates' Court in 1852. It was under the ownership of the Guinness family that the two large Victorian and neogothic-style extensions were built, as was the entire west wing that connects them to the original structure. V U E N J . C O M 128

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