2024 Award Winners MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AWARD 2024

The Drawing Room at Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo

The ‘Memorable Experience’ award is one that resonates with everyone – and it’s interesting to see how many of those experiences relate to small meals or very short visits to grand establishments, notably 5-star hotels, where you might expect the overall experience, the grand room, the fine dining dinner, or even a special bottle of wine from a great cellar to be the special memory. But no, it’s more often the little things. For example “…We had lunch in The Drawing Room at Ashford Castle and had the very simple Smoked Salmon on Soda Bread, but it was far from a simple experience…” It was partly the setting, within Ireland’s grandest castle hotel, which dates back to the 13th century - the spacious and very comfortably furnished room is beautifully situated overlooking Lough Corrib, which can be stunning. And then, nothing is likely to be simple here - Executive Head Chef Liam Finnegan’s interest in and support for artisan producers and suppliers is seen across the full range of dining options at the Castle and it shows on even (perhaps especially) the lightest of lunch plates – all of which will be further enhanced as the new and very impressive kitchen garden comes into full production in the coming seasons. And there is the soda bread, made by their renowned pastry chef, Paula Stakelum, who is global director of chocolate and patisserie for the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, no less. And not forgetting the famous Ashford Castle service – immaculate, yes, but first and foremost warm and friendly… A ‘Memorable Experience’ without doubt.