Avondale House

About the museum

Avondale House near Rathdrum in County Wicklow is the birthplace and family home of the nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell, who was born here in 1846. The Georgian house later became closely linked to the beginnings of Irish forestry: the State bought the house and estate in 1904, and the surrounding woodland is now Avondale Forest Park, run by Coillte.

The house has been restored and furnished in the style of the Parnell family's time. Visitors see it on a living history tour of about 45 minutes with guides in period costume, who tell the story of the Parnell family in the rooms where Charles Stewart Parnell grew up, among original furniture. Seasonal events, such as an eighteenth-century Christmas experience with Santa, are also held in the house.

The visitor centre of the forest park, Beyond the Trees Avondale, has a café and a treetop walk with a viewing tower, which are ticketed separately or as a combination with the house.

Highlights

• Birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell, restored Georgian rooms
• Costumed living history tour of about 45 minutes
• Original furniture and period costumes
• Forest park with treetop walk and viewing tower

Permanent exhibition

• Avondale House, birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell – A living history tour of the restored Georgian rooms telling the story of the Parnell family.

Operated by

Coillte

Admission & discounts

Prices are for the Avondale House tour. Parking at the forest park costs €6 per car, paid on arrival by contactless card. Visitors with special needs can bring one carer free of charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The guided tour takes place on the ground floor and is described as fully accessible. The visitor centre has ramps, a lift, accessible toilets, baby changing and a Changing Places room, and manual wheelchairs can be borrowed at reception. The first bays of the car park are reserved for disabled permit holders. Guide dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

The tour is suitable for families and schools, and the forest park has a playground; the tour is recommended for children aged 8 and over.

Getting there & parking

Avondale is about 1.5 km south of Rathdrum on the L2149, roughly an hour's drive from Dublin.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The Seed Café and public toilets at the visitor centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit