Johnstown Castle

The Great Irish Famine by Mylo Miller
2026-02-28 11:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Mylo Miller, a staff member at Johnstown Castle, has been working on a new museum exhibition titled “Changing Farming Fortunes”.
The exhibition traces Ireland’s agricultural history from the Great Irish Famine through to modern times, highlighting Johnstown Castle’s role during the Famine and the later impact of Teagasc in advancing Irish farming practices.
As part of this project, Mylo has created an illustrated talk, “The Great Irish Famine”, based on his in-depth research into this tragic period. The talk explores why Ireland’s poorest communities were the most vulnerable, examines the causes of the Famine, and describes the harsh and often devastating conditions endured by much of the population.
While Wexford is often considered to have escaped the worst effects of the Famine, the presentation will use the Wexford Workhouse as a case study to demonstrate the significant hardship faced by many poorer families.
It will also discuss the role of Hamilton Knox Grogan Morgan, Resident Landlord of the Johnstown Castle Estate during the Famine years.
Following the talk, attendees will be invited to join Mylo for a short guided tour of the new Changing Farming Fortunes exhibition.

Easter Trail
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-04-12 16:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Saturday 28th March – Sunday 12th April 2026
Join us this Easter for a fun-filled adventure at Johnstown Castle! The Easter Trail is the perfect activity for all ages, where you’ll explore the castle grounds, search for hidden trail characters and objects.
Once you find them all, piece them together to reveal the name of the Bunny and claim your Easter Egg prize!
Rainy Day? No Problem! In case the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ve got you covered with an exciting indoor trail around the Irish Agricultural Museum. Enjoy the fun regardless of the weather!
This self-guided Easter Trail will be available daily from Saturday, 28th March, between 10am and 4pm, running until Sunday, 12th April. The Easter Bunny will be making an appearance over the bank holiday weekend. Come along, say hello, and snap a picture!
Prices are as follows:

Child: €10.00
Adult: €12.00
Concession: €9.50
Under 5: €6.00
Member Child: €6.00
Member Adult: Free

No advance booking is needed, but tickets are available for purchase online. Tickets also include entry to the gardens and Irish Agricultural Museum.

Mary Josephine "Min" Ryan
2026-03-28 11:00 - 12:00
Min Ryan Park in Wexford Town celebrates the legacy of Mary Josephine “Min” Ryan (1884–1977) a trailblazing Wexford born woman whose life and work continue to inspire.
Join us on 28 March at 11am for a special educational talk by Vivian Lambert, Irish Heritage Trust volunteer, exploring Min Ryan’s incredible impact.
We’re also preparing a new temporary exhibition dedicated to her life and legacy — opening to the public in the coming weeks.

Evening Bat Walks
2026-04-30 20:00 - 2026-08-27 22:00, 2026-05-28 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-25 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-30 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
As the sun begins to set over Johnstown Castle and the visitors leave, many animals are settling down for the night.
In the attic of the Irish Agricultural museum and by the lakes others are just coming to life! Did you know the museum attic is home to a large roost of pipistrelle bats? One of the largest in the country in fact!
This Spring and Summer we are delighted to welcome you for some very special after hours Bat walks. Come and join us for an evening bat talk and walk with bat conservationist Harm Deenen. Learn about the various bats which live on the Johnstown Estate and why Johnstown Castle is such a special place for them. Get to try out a bat detector and find out how we use it to identify a bat by its call.
**Please note your start time as start times vary depending on sunset time**
Dates & Times:
Thursday 30th April at 20:15
Thursday 28th May at 21:00
Thursday 26th June at 21:15
Thursday 30th July at 20:45
Thursday 27th August at 20:00

Leo Richardson
2026-05-01 20:00 - 22:00
From Ronnie Scott’s to Jazz at Johnstown
Leo Richardson, a regular at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s Club, is one of the UK’s leading jazz tenor saxophonists, known for his honest, straight ahead, contemporary hard bop style.
His debut album, The Chase (2017), was named one of The Times’ Top 10 Jazz Albums of the year and one of the Top 100 Albums across all genres. It was also the first debut album to receive five stars from The Observer. His follow-up, Move (2019), received critical acclaim, including a 5-star review in BBC Music Magazine.
Joining Leo at Johnstown Castle on Friday, May 1, are internationally acclaimed musicians:

Rick Simpson, piano – Ronnie Scott’s regular, Yamaha Scholarship winner, and performer at venues including the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room.

Dave Redmond, double bass – celebrated for collaborations with artists such as Larry Coryell, Seamus Blake, Dave Liebman, and Van Morrison.

Darren Beckett, drums – in demand worldwide, performing from the Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall with Lee Konitz, Sinead O’Connor, Lauryn Hill, and more.

Leo Richardson QuartetLeo Richardson – saxRick Simpson – pianoDave Redmond – bassDarren Beckett – drums
DOORS OPEN 19:30
