Adare or Ashford

Are you asking about Adare Manor vs. Ashford Castle, both wonderful hotels?

Adare is also a lovely little village with a few thatched roof homes that are now gift shops, etc.

Adare Manor is a lovely old manor house hotel. I have not personally stayed there, just stopped in for tea, but it sure did look lovely, with a nice garden and golf course.

Ashford Castle is one of the top hotels in the Europe, if not the world. It is the original home of the Guinness (as in the beer) family. It is fabulously maintained with top-notch service. One can also book the Hawk Walk experience there, where each person received his/her own hawk and learns launching/landing the hawk is very small groups (of just your party). Meals are fabulous, and the rooms are also fabulous, and you may request one overlooking both the lake and the river. The village in which it is located, Cong, is small. So, I would consider it to not be very touristy, except of course, your fellow guests at Ashford (who are likely travelers, like you). While on castle groups, you may enjoy fishing, boating, horse carriage ride, seeing the Irish Wolfhounds, horseback riding, biking, hiking, or just sitting and enjoying the lovely location (both inside and outside).

If having to choose between the two, I would select Ashford Castle (and I did). Also en route, you would travel thru the Connemera region, and Sky Road is listed in "National Geographic's 500 Journeys of a Lifetime" book.

Dromoland Castle (hotel), closer to the Shannon airport, is also a lovely experience, though not as "grand" of a castle as Ashford in size. The walled garden there is incredible.

For both Ashford and Dromoland, check web sites for specials (or telephone of you don't see a special), and I advise doing the two-night stay, as you will want time to soak it all in.