Less than ten minutes from Wexford town, Johnstown Castle rises out of its own reflection in an ornamental lake — a grey Gothic Revival fantasy of turrets and battlements set in fifty acres of gardens, woodland and water. It is one of the most photogenic estates in Ireland, and behind the romantic facade lies a genuinely rewarding day out: ornamental grounds to wander, a fine museum of rural life, and the restored castle rooms themselves.
The Castle and Its History
The present castle is largely a 19th-century creation, remodelled in the grand Gothic Revival style by the Grogan-Morgan family using the architect Daniel Robertson. In the 20th century the estate was gifted to the Irish state, and today the beautifully restored ground-floor rooms are open to visitors on guided tours that tell the story of the families who lived here and the servants who ran the house.
The Gardens
The grounds are the real glory of Johnstown. Designed in the 19th century, they include ornamental lakes, walled gardens, a sunken garden, towering specimen trees and woodland walks, with peacocks wandering the lawns. The lakeside view of the castle — turrets mirrored in still water — is the picture everyone comes for, and it does not disappoint.
The Irish Agricultural Museum
Housed in the estate’s farmyard buildings, the Irish Agricultural Museum is one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind in the country — farm machinery, rural trades, dairying, and a moving exhibition on the Great Famine. It is far more engaging than it sounds, and rounds out a visit that mixes grandeur, gardens and genuine social history.
Practical Information
Johnstown Castle is signposted off the N25, less than ten minutes south-west of Wexford town, with ample parking. The gardens, museum and castle tours are popular — advance booking is recommended, particularly for castle tours and at weekends. Allow half a day. There is a café on site, and much of the gardens are accessible, though paths vary. Check the website for seasonal hours and tour availability.
This is one of our Top 15 Things to Do in Wexford.