Departure658933
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A small family group of 18 people, we celebrated a recent 50th Birthday at The Lodge at Ashford Castle. (Saturday evening 15/11/2025) The young & the not-so-young amongst us were all treated like V.I.P.'s and most especially, one family member who is a wheelchair user. ||This is an historic old lady of a building but very suitable for wheelchair users. Having pre-booked and providing all relevant extra-ordinary needs / details of various guests to Cora ( the wonderful event manager at The Lodge ) the Reception Staff & Front Door Porters were SO professional, respectful & welcoming to guests at the front door. ( Think Irish Contemporary Hospitality X Downton Abbey!) - instantly setting the scene for a treat and beautiful memorable occasion. ||Porters laid out the entrance with a ramp, luggage pick-up and parked the car swiftly & efficiently. Pre-dinner drinks downstairs in the Quay Bar, perfect. Artwork on the walls includes spunky, contemporary unexpected pieces among the more traditional hunting scene prints, super cool.|Cannonball Ireland were holding a large party downstairs the same evening, the staff were really busy but had time for everyone in the house that night.||Elevator access to Wilde's Restaurant upstairs was easy. ( The accessible toilet is downstairs, none upstairs, but the journey between restaurant & W.C. was reasonably manageable. ) The original historic layout of rooms upstairs make up the restaurant so we had a lovely dining room to ourselves. Again, the service was wonderful, the staff had considered the space carefully, laid out the room perfectly, including the cake & champagne table. The food was really good & enjoyed by all.||Peter, our Wilde's Restaurant Manager on the night ( 15/ 11 /25 ) was an expert at 'reading the room' & conducting the occasion, shout out also to young Fionn who was quietly, quickly, vanishing away delft, glassware, cutlery etc. between courses without a bother! And taking pics for us!||A Massive Thank You to Nathaniel at Reception for going above and beyond his normal duties in helping me with 'The Cake' (....an actual work of art by local lady @cakelicious_by_veronica ) Masses of helium balloons & all the prior preparatory bits and pieces on the day!! Not easy.||Thank you also to the lovely, respectful porter working the front door on that night (15/11/25) who's name I don't have, but he was originally from Transylvania, moving to Ireland & sported a cute little 'man bun' atop the head!