By Steve Bergsman

Ashford Castle in the heart of County Mayo, Ireland, is one of the most amazing places in which I've ever found temporary residence - a considerable statement after having visited almost 150 countries around the world — but this story is only partially about the castle as a luxury accommodation. Mostly it's about cinema history and how the castle and the nearby village of Cong, population 178, got wrapped up in one the best movies of the 1950s.

Both the village and the castle have long histories. A monastery was founded in Cong around 623 and an abbey in 1120. About 100 years later an Anglo-Norman family conquered the region and built what was then known as the Castle of Cong.

Over the centuries both the abbey and castle eventually went into decline, only to be rescued in the mid-1800s by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, scion of the famous brewery family. In 1939 the castle became a hotel, which it remains today.

When I arrived at Ashford Castle I didn't know its connection to the movie "The Quiet Man," but later in the day while my wife and I were sitting in the drawing room enjoying the castle's famous afternoon tea (sandwiches, scones and confections), two women from New York sitting near us asked the waiter about "The Quiet Man" sites at the castle. That somewhat spurred my interest. Then later as we strolled the lush, wooded grounds of the castle we ran into the two women again. The older of the ladies gushed about seeing the actual home used in the movie as Squire Danagher's House. Sure enough, there was a sign on the wall that read "Quiet Man House 1951."

Director John Ford, who was well-known for his westerns, particularly with John Wayne as the star, was looking to do something with a story he had owned the rights to since 1933, a comedic drama set in Ireland. So after completing another John Wayne "oater," "Rio Bravo," he and his star headed to the isolated and ancient-looking village of Cong, which would become the mythic village of Innisfree in the movie. Along with Wayne, Ford enticed Victor McLaglen and Maureen O'Hara to star. All of the key thespians and many of the production crew stayed at Ashford Castle, which also has a few moments in the movie.

The film commenced shooting in the spring of 1951 and was released in 1952, getting seven Academy Award nominations, including one for best picture and best supporting actor, Victor McLaglen. It won two, best cinematography and best director for John Ford (his fourth Oscar). Auteur theorists place Ford in the pantheon of America's finest film directors and "The Quiet Man" as one of his best cinematic efforts.

As for the almost-forgotten Cong, it became known as the village of "The Quiet Man" film, and to this day you can take "Quiet Man" tours - mostly just in the summer. There is even a "Quiet Man" Museum, which I never saw as I arrived in the dead of winter. It seems most Cong residents who could travel were on the beach in Spain.

No worries! We walked about the tiny town and spotted the many plaques of significance, indicating which building appeared in what scene.

Visitors might come across a plaque that says "Old Man Dying House, 'The Quiet Man,'" or a sign reading "Pat Cohan Bar: Original location used in the making of the John Ford Classic 'The Quiet Man' in 1951." There's also Danaghers Restaurant (the Danaghers were important characters in the film), the site of Mary Kate's Kitchen in the film and numerous "Quiet Man" bars and pubs.

Other things to see in picturesque Cong include the ruins of the old abbey and good places to eat (my favorite was the Hungry Monk), but by far the most popular thing to visit is the statue of John Wayne joyously holding Maureen O'Hara, which is the iconic shot that was used on the poster for the movie.

Corny as it sounds, my wife and I have in the past tried to replicate famous shots from classic movies. So, despite my lack of youth, I hoisted my wife in my arms, mimicking Wayne and O'Hara, and had someone take our picture. We weren't the only ones. A much younger couple from Asia were doing the same thing. A classic movie is a classic movie, anywhere around the world.

Although Ashford Castle has hosted American presidents such as Ronald Reagan and Hollywood royalty such as Princes Grace of Monaco, nee Grace Kelly, it hasn't lost its connection to "The Quiet Man." There is a cinema on the hotel's premises and one of the classic theater-size posters on the wall is of "The Quiet Man."

Ashford Castle offers a dizzying host of things to do, thus keeping guests endlessly busy if they choose to be. Probably the most famous, unique and very popular activity is falconry. All activities sounded enticing, but in honor of John Wayne and the westerns in which he appeared, my wife and I decided to shoot some guns - at clay pigeons.

My wife had never shot so much as a water pistol. Yet instructor Eoin (pronounced Owen) Norris patiently took us through the proper techniques of handling a double-barrel (over/under) 12-gauge shotgun for the purposes of shooting clay pigeons. We graduated from the single overhead target to targets that were launched in one of three different directions to shooting two clay pigeons in one launch. I enjoyed moderate success because I paid attention to what the instructor was saying, especially in regard to rifle stock placement to the body and cheek against stock positioning.

John Wayne western movies of yore would feature a different kind of double-barreled shotgun with barrels horizontal, not vertical. And the big showdown in "The Quiet Man" was about fisticuffs, not guns. Thankfully the hotel doesn't offer pugilism as an activity. I think my wife would be beat me in that sport.

WHEN YOU GO

If you visit the tiny burgh of Cong, the nearest place to stay is Ashford Castle, just a 10-minute walk away. The castle, which has been voted the No. 1 Resort/Inn in Great Britain and Ireland, boasts beautiful grounds: www.ashfordcastle.com, www.congtourism.com.

Besides walking into Cong, which has interesting ruins to visit along with "The Quiet Man" sites, Ashford Castle offers up a host of activities that include golf, fishing, spa, falconry, zip-lining, clay shooting and archery.

(SET CAPTION) Guests begin their stay at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, in this elegant lobby. Photo courtesy of Steve Bergsman. (END CAPTION2

Steve Bergsman is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.