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12 Feb 2026
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12 Feb 2026
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Ashford Castle retains its Forbes Five-Star ranking for a seventh consecutive year.
Ashford Castle, the prestigious Co Mayo estate, has been crowned the only property in the UK and Ireland to receive a five-star rating for both its hotel and spa in the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide awards.
The Cong-based luxury hotel is celebrating a “double win” after retaining its Forbes Five-Star ranking for a seventh consecutive year, while The Spa at Ashford Castle also continues to hold a five-star status, first achieved in Ireland in 2023.
Managing Director Niall Rochford said the team was “overjoyed” with the double recognition.
“We’re in seventh heaven but will never take a top Forbes ranking for granted,” he said, praising the staff whose service underpins the award.
“A Forbes Five-Star ranking is earned through the collective passion, pride, and commitment of our people,” Mr Rochford declared. “Retaining such a prestigious accolade reflects the warm and professional hospitality that defines Ashford Castle.”
READ MORE: Irish Hotel Federation Mayo branch names Employee of the Year
The annual Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards are regarded as the gold standard in global hospitality, with anonymous inspectors assessing properties against hundreds of rigorous standards and a strong focus on service.
A five-star ranking is the highest possible accolade. Service accounts for 70 percent of the overall score, with inspectors placing strong emphasis on how a stay makes guests feel, while facilities account for the remaining 30 percent.
According to Forbes, while every detail counts, the emphasis is firmly on service — “how a hotel makes you feel is what you will remember most.”
Set on a 350-acre estate in Cong, Ashford Castle is part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection and remains one of Mayo’s leading tourism destinations.
Ashford Castle made history in 2020 as Ireland’s first hotel to achieve a Forbes Five-Star ranking. In 2023, The Spa at Ashford Castle became Ireland’s first — and remains the only — hotel spa in the country to earn a five-star Forbes rating.
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