My island tour began on the morning of Good Friday, the first day of the Easter holiday. After leaving Dublin at 8:00 AM, we first arrived at the beautiful mountainous Connemara region in the west. The mountains in this area are not particularly rugged, but they give a sense of vastness and remoteness, reminiscent of the atmosphere in Jack London's "The Call of the Wild." We were told by the driver that this is one of the most common filming locations for Irish movies, and we were also informed that we would be visiting another popular filming location, Ashford Castle.
Ashford Castle is a rare example of a castle that has been in continuous use since its construction in 1288. After several expansions and renovations, it has evolved into a castle complex and estate covering 158,000 acres. It remains open to tourists today as a high-end hotel and resort center. Strolling through such an ancient castle, rich in Victorian-era charm, feels like stepping into a Jane Austen novel—it is a truly romantic experience.