Irish Agricultural Museum

About the museum

The Irish Agricultural Museum is housed in the former farm courtyard buildings of Johnstown Castle Estate near Wexford. It began as the idea of Dr Austin O’Sullivan, a researcher who travelled the country for the Agricultural Institute, now Teagasc, which was founded at Johnstown after the estate was given to the Irish state. He saw that farming was becoming mechanised and that old horse-drawn equipment, much of it made in Wexford, and traditional skills were at risk of disappearing, so he began to collect them. His employers supported setting up a museum, and the collection was built up over about 40 years.

Today the museum spreads over three floors and 19 exhibition spaces on rural life from the 18th century onwards. It shows restored tractors, carts, ploughs, threshing machines, stationary engines and dairy equipment, a series of country kitchens, and recreated scenes of a blacksmith’s forge and a cooper’s workshop. A famine exhibition looks at the Great Famine and the recovery of rural Ireland afterwards.

The estate is cared for by the Irish Heritage Trust, while ownership remains with Teagasc, and the museum has been awarded full museum accreditation. The ticket also covers the ornamental gardens and lakes, and a guided tour of the neo-Gothic castle can be added.

Highlights

• 19 exhibitions over three floors on Irish farming and rural life
• Restored tractors, ploughs, threshing machines and dairy equipment
• Country kitchens, blacksmith’s forge and cooper’s workshop
• Famine exhibition
• Ornamental gardens, lakes and guided tour of Johnstown Castle in the same ticket area

Permanent exhibitions

• Irish Agricultural Museum – Nineteen exhibition spaces over three floors on farming and rural life, with restored machinery, country kitchens, a forge and a cooper’s workshop.
• Famine exhibition – A display within the museum on the Great Famine and the recovery of rural communities afterwards.

Founded

1979

Operated by

Irish Heritage Trust

Admission & discounts

General admission covers the Irish Agricultural Museum and the gardens and lakes; there is no separate garden-only ticket. Members of the Irish Heritage Trust enter free, and members of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland get 50% off. No booking is needed for the museum and gardens.

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 museum is almost fully accessible: 18 of its 19 exhibitions are reached by flat surfaces and ramps, and only the estate workers’ room has a single step. The visitor centre, café and shop are fully accessible, there are 7 disabled parking bays 20 m from the entrance, and wheelchairs can be borrowed. The castle has a lift, but the servants’ tunnel is uneven with a slight slope, and the historic glasshouse is not accessible. Assistance dogs are welcome, including in the museum and castle.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The museum describes itself as family friendly and offers quizzes and trails for younger visitors and school groups. The estate has a woodland playground and baby changing facilities. Children under 5 are free and there is a family ticket.

Getting there & parking

Follow the signs for Johnstown Castle from the N25 near Wexford town.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Peacock Café and gift shop are in the visitor centre; the café seats up to 120 people indoors and outdoors and offers vegetarian and gluten-free options. Dogs on a lead are welcome in the visitor centre, café and shop, but not in the museum or castle except assistance dogs.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Rooms in the castle and the 120-seat café in the visitor centre can be hired for celebrations, meetings and talks.

Plan your visit