Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens
There is so much to explore around the Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens for visitors of all ages! Allow yourself time to tour the spectacular neo-Gothic Irish castle, connect with the heritage of rural Ireland at the Irish Agricultural Museum, and explore the gardens and lakeside walks, all fully wheelchair accessible.
Stroll through the wooded grounds with over 200 different kinds of trees and shrubs, or relax by the castle lakeside with its Gothic towers and waterfalls.
Ramble along the lake terrace walk lined with statues to the garden lake. Both lakes are home to a wide range of waterfowl e.g. swans and little grebes. Pass through the Devil’s Gateway into the walled ornamental garden and hothouses. This hidden paradise provides a dazzling, colourful array of flowering plants.
The sunken Italian Garden contains a shaded picnic area where one can sit and watch the peacocks strut by. Other attractions include the ruin of a medieval tower house called Rathlannon Castle and the old farm buildings which house the Irish Agricultural Museum.
Visit the Johnstown Estate throughout the year to enjoy absorbing events, talks, and exhibitions within the enchanting castle and gorgeous gardens.
Find out what’s on at Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens in the months ahead with the help of their events calendar
The Peacock Café, located in the Johnstown Castle Visitor Centre offers a variety of catering options for your group or event, including morning coffee, lunch, and afternoon tea.
We feature fresh Wexford food whenever possible, some of which is produced here on the estate. A selection of gifts and cards are also available for purchase in the Visitor Centre shop.
An Enchanted Christmas at Johnstown Castle 2024
Details to follow soon.
The Castle
Johnstown Castle stands on an estate first granted to the Esmonde family as thanks for their role in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, and its fortunes over the centuries reflect the richly layered story of this storied region in the centuries that followed.
In the 19th-century, the Grogan family re-imagined and remodelled the castle with a romantic, neo-Gothic design – delivered with the help of Daniel Robertson, who also shaped the gardens at the Powerscourt Estate.
Together they created the neo-Gothic castle you see today, adorned with turrets and towers, and Johnstown’s sumptuous gardens and parkland, studded with three lakes and bordered by woodland walks.
The Gardens
Enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of Johnstown Castle gardens and discover the vibrancy of a fairytale estate that’s teeming with gorgeous planting and native wildlife!
The Johnstown Castle gardens and lakes you see today were developed by the Grogan family, who brought their romantic vision to life with the help of the extraordinary 19th-century garden designer Daniel Robertson, who also designed the impressive gardens at the Powerscourt Estate and Wells House.
The Agricultural Museum
Agriculture has been at the heart of Johnstown Castle Estate since time immemorial. Housed in the Johnstown Castle Estate’s farm courtyard buildings, this absorbing, family-friendly stable courtyard, brings together intriguing objects and stories that reflect the realities of life in rural Ireland over the centuries. The museum’s plentiful collections – carefully built up over 40 years – reflect traditions and progress in rural Ireland
Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens is a captivating location for group tours and venue hire.
We regularly welcome private groups, school tours, and tour parties who enjoy the atmosphere and stories to be found here on this enchanting and vibrant heritage estate.
