Fethard Horse Country Experience

About the museum

The Fethard Horse Country Experience is an interactive museum in the Tholsel on Main Street in Fethard, a building from the early seventeenth century. It began as an almshouse paid for by the Everard family, one of the leading families of the town, and later housed the town corporation until 1840 and the town commissioners until 1898. In the twentieth century it was Fethard’s town hall and was also used as a theatre and dance hall, a fire station, a library and a marketplace. The first Country Market in Ireland was held here in 1947 and still takes place every Friday morning.

Today the exhibition on two floors tells the story of Fethard, the Golden Vale and the horse, showing how the three have been connected for more than 2,000 years. It covers myths and legends of the landscape, the war horse, the farm horse and the racehorse, and it explains the thoroughbred industry for which the area is known.

The museum is a self-guided visit with no set duration. It is also the booking point for tours of the Coolmore Stud and for curated Horse Country packages that combine the museum with local food and heritage sites, and it welcomes school and group visits.

Highlights

• Interactive exhibition on the horse in Irish history over 2,000 years
• Housed in a 17th-century almshouse and former town hall
• Thoroughbred and racing heritage of the Golden Vale
• Booking point for Coolmore Stud tours and Horse Country packages
• Local-produce café menu presented for visitors

Permanent exhibition

• Fethard Horse Country Experience – An interactive, self-guided exhibition over two floors on the connection between the people of Fethard, the land and the horse, including myth, the war horse, the farm horse and the racehorse.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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

The museum states that the entire building is wheelchair accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

The museum describes itself as suitable for families, with a buggy-friendly layout. Education visits include a “Coolmore for Kids” booklet.

Getting there & parking

The Tholsel is on Main Street in the centre of Fethard.

Amenities & dining

The museum website presents a café menu with soup, sandwiches, toasties, baking and drinks made with local produce for visitors after the exhibition. Wi-Fi is mentioned only for the meeting room.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 18 guests.

An executive meeting room for up to 18 guests and a day-hire work hub (€10 per person per day, or €25 with lunch and refreshments) are offered.

Plan your visit