Ashford Castle staff remember Robin Williams fondly

Ashford Castle staff remember Robin Williams fondly


Ciara Galvin

STAFF at five-star Ashford Castle hotel were among the many millions across the world deeply saddened to hear the news of Robin Williams’s death last week.
The talented actor and comedian, adored by young and old for his roles in classics such as ‘Good Morning Vietnam’, ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ and ‘Good Will Hunting’, stayed at the castle in Cong in August 2000.
Williams stayed two nights in the castle with his then wife, Marsha Garces Williams, and their two children.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the much-loved actor, Robert Bowe, restaurant manager, described him as ‘very humble and very grateful’.
“He had just finished filming [in the US] and stayed in the castle for two nights with his family. He was working really hard at the time and came to Ireland to relax. He kept to himself and he was there for the kids, to entertain them, to make sure they had nice meals and did all the activities,” said Mr Bowe.
“He was cracking jokes all the time for his kids, and he was easy to talk to, asking questions about the castle. He was a lovely guy.”
Bowe remembers Williams’s kindness to staff, noting that every time staff tended to his table he always said ‘thank you so much’. He added that after Williams returned to the US he sent the staff a picture of himself dressed as Mrs Doubtfire with a message saying ‘Behind every Great Man is a Great Woman and behind every Great Woman is a Great Behind’.
The picture, along with many other pictures of famous actors, will adorn the walls of the cinema that is planned to be constructed at the castle in the coming months.
One year after his visit, Williams met a group of Ashford Castle staff in New York’s Central Park. The four women travelled to the city in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and said hello to Williams who was walking in the park and informed him they were staff of the castle.
Bowe said that Williams was amazed at the women’s courage in travelling to the city after the terrorist attacks and that he thanked them for supporting New York.
Williams’s co-star in the cult-classic show Mork and Mindy, Pam Dawber also stayed in the castle two years ago.