Cong & Ashford Castle
Conga / Caisleán Ashford
A medieval village on the Mayo border with the ruins of Cong Abbey and the filming location of The Quiet Man; next door is the five-star castle hotel Ashford Castle.
Cong lies between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. The 12th-century Cong Abbey ruins, the monks' fishing house by the river and the forest trails all have a lot of character. The 1952 film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne, was shot here, and the village has a film museum and statues. Ashford Castle, beside the village, was built in 1228 and was once owned by the Guinness family. It is now a luxury castle hotel. Non-guests can buy tickets to walk the grounds, take part in a falconry experience or have afternoon tea at the hotel. It's about a 50-minute drive from Galway.
Opening hours
Open all day (estate tickets and activities require reservation)
Nearby sights
- Lough Corrib
- Ross Errilly Friary
- Galway Cathedral
- Salthill Promenade
- St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church
- Galway Latin Quarter
- Eyre Square
- Spanish Arch & The Long Walk