Ashford Castle on sale for €25m

Historic landmark Ashford Castle has been put on the market, with a guide price of €25 million.

The five-star property in Cong, Co Mayo is being sold by Savills on the direction of Luke Charleston and David Hughes of Ernst and Young, who were appointed receivers last year.

Ashford Castle was located on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong on the border of Mayo and Galway and has a long and rich heritage dating back to the 13^th century. It was a Guinness family home from 1855 until 1939, when Ashford Castle became a leading hotel.

The castle includes 83 bedrooms, dining room, bar, drawing room, private dining rooms and a spa. Along with the magnificent gardens and grounds, there is a nine-hole golf course on the estate.

Ashford Castle was bought in 2007 by local property magnate Gerry Barrett and in recent years, a masterplan was prepared for the future of the estate, envisaging the addition of 13 penthouse bedrooms, 30 residential lodges and an upgrade of the golf course to a championship 18-hole course.

Tifco Hotels have managed the resort since November 2011 and hotel trade is not impacted by the sale.

“Ashford Castle is the most prestigious name in Irish hotels and it features in the top tier of hotels worldwide. The strength of the Ashford Castle brand and its unrivalled service and customer satisfaction ensure that it trades so successfully. Occupying a stunning estate on Lough Corrib, this property offers enormous opportunity,” according to Tom Barrett of Savills.