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Meet our team

The extraordinary characters of The Lodge passionately care about each and every guest experience. Our warm and welcoming team provides the perfect introduction to genuine Irish charm, and every one of us is deeply committed to giving the very best in all we do.

Niall Rochford sanding next to a rec chair

Niall Rochford

Managing Director of The Ashford Estate

I am responsible for the day to day running of our iconic 83 bedroom castle. Continually ensuring we meet international standards of excellence, I have a constant guest focus and am always seeking to find new and innovative ways to excel. I am proud to have been awarded 'Hospitality Manager of the Year' by The Irish Times. Together with my dedicated and passionate team we provide genuine and generous Irish hospitality on a grand scale.

General Manager Peter Fergus

Peter Fergus

General Manager

I joined the Ashford Estate family in 2018 as Hotel Manager at The Lodge at Ashford Castle. Going forward, as General Manager, I will be responsible for the sustained growth and reputation of the hotel both at a local and international level. There really is nowhere more beautiful than Ashford, with luxurious accommodation, exceptional dining, unique estate activities and warm, attentive, personal service. I look forward to sharing my love of Ireland with you when you stay with us.

Regina O'Donoghue

Director of Marketing

I joined Ashford Castle 18 years ago as a Groups Coordinator and was promoted to the position of Sales Office Manager in 2017, with a remit that extended to the Castle’s sales and marketing functions. I am now delighted to be taking on the position of Director of Marketing where I will be responsible for safe-guarding and further promoting the Ashford Estate as the best resort in Ireland and among the finest in the world.

Fiona Heneghan

Fiona Heneghan

Accommodation Manager

My role, along with my experienced and dedicated team, is to ensure that guests receive the very best standard of service and to ensure their stay with us is a memorable one. Having completed Hospitality Studies and Supervisory Courses in college, I spent seven years at Ashford Castle, before moving the short distance to The Lodge in 2007. I love working with a passionate and dedicated team, providing a host of thoughtful touches for each guest. I look forward to welcoming you soon!

Shane Brett

Director of Sales

I joined Ashford Castle back in 2015 and have been part of the Ashford family for over 8 years. My journey began as a Guest Services Manager, giving me insight into the operations and needs of our guests. Later, I transitioned into the Sales Team and I'm delighted to have now been appointed Director of Sales. As I manage and oversee the entire sales operation I look forward to continuing to nurture our relationships with our clients and tourism partners.

Saskia Parker

Reservations & Revenue Manager

I am originally from New York and moved to Ireland, working at the Four Seasons in Dublin. From there I moved to Mayo in 2008 and joined The Lodge at Ashford Castle - and I have enjoyed every minute! In January 2014 we couldn’t have been happier to hear that Red Carnation had purchased the Lodge and reunited us with Ashford Castle. The transformation the hotel has gone through since has been inspirational and I cannot wait to see what we can achieve now as one Estate.

Jonathan Keane, Executive Head Chef

Jonathan Keane

Executive Head Chef

I joined The Lodge as Head Chef in 2012 and serve a combination of simple, authentic, seasonal and innovative dishes daily. I focus on the quality of the country’s produce in my cooking, as I believe that the quality of the seafood, wild foods, livestock and vegetables in the west of Ireland is unrivalled anywhere in the world. I continue to champion West of Ireland artisan producers to the best of my ability and am co-founder of Slow Food Mayo and a member of Euro-Toques.