A national treasure
South Africa’s most cherished hotel stands majestically on Umhlanga’s beachfront, overlooking the Indian Ocean & the iconic lighthouse.
The Oyster Box
Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal
A timeless icon
Occupying a majestic location on the Umhlanga beachfront in KwaZulu-Natal province, The Oyster Box is one of South Africa’s most celebrated hotels, as famous for its remarkable coastal views as the understated luxury and gracious hospitality that have become the hallmarks of this cherished seaside destination.
Set just 15 minutes’ drive from King Shaka International Airport, The Oyster Box offers an array of individually decorated rooms and suites, an award-winning spa set amid tropical gardens, and a mouth-watering menu of restaurants and bars.
With South Africa’s Covid-19 recovery well underway, we are delighted to once again welcome international travellers back to The Oyster Box.
Niall Rochford
General Manager
niallrochford@ashfordcastle.comI 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.
Paula Carroll
Director of Sales & Marketing
pcarroll@ashfordcastle.comIt is an absolute privilege to be Director of Sales and Marketing at the legendary Ashford Castle, for over 25 years. I am proud to represent the wonderful Ashford family. My role is to connect our guests, clients and travel advisors with the operational team, in a smooth and efficient manner to ensure that each guest has a truly memorable experience. Our team are warm, compassionate, caring, genuine and enthusiastic about delivering and living the Red Carnation ethos.
Peter Fergus
Hotel Manager
peterfergus@thelodgeac.comI started my hotel career in Westport Co Mayo, having graduated from Shannon College of Hotel Management. I was ecstatic to become Hotel Manager at The Lodge at Ashford Castle in 2018 and it is wonderful to be back in my homeland. 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.
Fiona Heneghan
Accommodation Manager
fiona@thelodgeac.comMy 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!
Saskia Parker
Front of House Manager
Saskia@thelodgeac.comI 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@thelodgeac.comI 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.