Irish National Stud & Gardens

About the museum

The Irish National Stud is a thoroughbred breeding farm at Tully in County Kildare. Its Japanese Gardens were devised by Colonel William Hall Walker, a wealthy Scotsman from a brewing family, and laid out between 1906 and 1910 by the Japanese horticulturist Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. The gardens symbolise the journey of a human life from birth to the afterlife.

Today it is a working thoroughbred breeding farm with stallions, mares and more than 300 foals born each year, and a home for retired racehorses known as the Living Legends. St Fiachra's Garden, designed in 1999, honours the patron saint of gardeners with woodland, water and rock.

The Irish Racehorse Experience tells the history of Irish horse racing and breeding from the first steeplechase in Cork to today. Visitors follow a racehorse from a trainer's yard to the race itself in an interactive exhibition. A free guided tour of the stud farm is included with admission.

Highlights

• Irish Racehorse Experience, an interactive exhibition on Irish racing
• Guided tour of the working stud farm
• Japanese Gardens, laid out between 1906 and 1910
• Living Legends, retired champion racehorses
• St Fiachra's Garden, playground and fairy trail

Permanent exhibition

• The Irish Racehorse Experience – An interactive exhibition on the history of Irish horse racing and breeding, from the first steeplechase in Cork to modern racing.

Operated by

Irish National Stud & Gardens

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially 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 stud farm and St Fiachra's Garden are fully accessible and the Japanese Gardens are partly accessible. An access officer, an accessibility statement and a welcome guide are available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Playground, fairy trail with more than 20 fairies and a kids' zone. All children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult at the Irish Racehorse Experience, and children under 124 cm cannot take part in the big race simulation but can attend with an adult.

Getting there & parking

By car leave the M7 at exit 13 towards Nurney on the R415 as far as Newtown Cross, turn left and follow the signs. About 45 minutes from Dublin.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Japanese Gardens Restaurant, a pavilion café in summer, picnic benches and a shop. There is no cash machine.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit