Ormond Castle

About the museum

Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir is described by Heritage Ireland as the finest example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland. It was built in 1565 by Thomas Butler, tenth Earl of Ormond, who wanted to receive his distant cousin Queen Elizabeth I in style. The new house is attached to an older medieval castle on the bank of the River Suir.

The long great hall holds some of the finest stucco plasterwork in the country, including portraits of Elizabeth I and her half-brother Edward VI and Tudor emblems. Among the other rooms are the Earl's Chamber and the Ladies' Parlour, and the attic can be visited. An early seventeenth-century oak bed is among the furnishings.

The house is now run by the Office of Public Works. Visitors see it on a guided house tour, and an exhibition and audio-visual installations present the history of the castle and the Butler family. A cheaper ticket covers only the exhibition, the audio-visual show and the courtyards.

Highlights

• Described as the finest Elizabethan manor house in Ireland
• Great hall with Tudor stucco plasterwork and portraits of Elizabeth I and Edward VI
• Earl's Chamber, Ladies' Parlour and attic
• Exhibition and audio-visual installations
• Early seventeenth-century oak bed

Permanent exhibition

• Ormond Castle exhibition and house tour – A guided tour through the Elizabethan house with its stucco great hall, together with an exhibition and audio-visual installations on the history of the castle.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW) – Heritage Ireland

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Wednesday of each month (Heritage Ireland Free Wednesday; first come, first served, no online booking).

The standard ticket covers the house tour, the exhibition and the audio-visual show.

Accessibility

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

The house has a spiral staircase and visitors are asked to hold the handrail. There are toilets including a wheelchair-accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities. Heritage Ireland offers a downloadable social guide for first-time visitors, families and people with developmental or learning disabilities. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby-changing facilities are available. A family ticket and a social guide for families are provided.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is at Castle Park, off Castle Street in Carrick-on-Suir.

Amenities & dining

Part of the Suir Blueway bike trail; cycling is not allowed within the grounds.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit