(SOLD OUT) Children's Easter Show
2024-03-27 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Join us on Wed 27th March at 3pm in Johnstown Castle Ballroom for a fabulous Easter show!
Tallulah and the Long Haired-Hare from Liverpool, is an hilarious comedy for children aged 5 -11years.
The story is a retelling of the classic fable The Tortoise and the Hare, but with a twist!
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Show is 55 mins long.

Jazz’s fab four
2024-04-19 20:00 - 22:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Jazz’s fab four coming to Jazz at Johnstown.
Spring will be in the air at Jazz at Johnstown on Friday evening, April 19th at 8pm. One of the country’s best jazz vocalists, Stella Bass and a trio of exceptional musicians. Accompanying Stella will be Johnny Taylor on piano, Barry Donohoe on double bass and Dominic Mullan on drums.
Stella has performed at leading venues and festivals across Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Australia and more. She headlined the Cork Jazz Festival in 2017 and has sold-out Dublin’s National Concert Hall on several occasions.
Outside her solo project, Stella has recorded with the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra. Stella presented her own music show on Dublin City FM for over three years. She comes to Jazz at Johnstown following recent sold out shows in Dublin (The Sugar Club) and in Belfast.
Sultry Latin grooves, delicate ballads and vivacious swing numbers ornamented by playful arrangements and lyrical improvisations are to the fore on Stella’s new CD, Look for the Silver Lining, released in February.
April 19th’s concert presented by Jazz at Johnstown is also an opportunity to experience the collective brilliance of these superb musicians: Johnny Taylor, Barry Donohoe and Dominic Mullan. Concert starts at 8 p.m – doors open at 7.30pm.

The Story of a Stained Glass Window
2024-04-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
On Saturday 20th April, Matt Wheeler reveals the hidden history behind the Rathaspeck Church stained glass window and the process to restore it to its former glory.
The restored stained glass window will be a perfect backdrop to this talk.
The talk starts at 11am. Please arrive 15 minutes before start time as talk takes place in the castle.

(SOLD OUT) Going, Going Gone! The Story of the 1944 Auction at Johnstown Castle
2024-05-11 11:00 - 2024-06-08 11:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Saturday 8th June 11am (SOLD OUT!)
Saturday 11th May (SOLD OUT!)
80 years ago, the entire contents of the castle were sold off at a public auction. What happened to all the items? Matt Wheeler and Duncan Laurence piece this intriguing story together as they continue to search for ‘lost’ artefacts.
The talk starts at 11am. Please arrive 15 minutes before start time as talk takes place in the castle.

National Drawing Day
2024-05-18 09:00 - 17:00
On Saturday 18th May, Johnstown will celebrate National Drawing Day in association with the National Gallery by making colouring materials available in our cafe. They will also find a chalk and fun board in our Agricultural museum beside the big red tractor for children to dream up what their ideal tractor would look like!

Park n Chill at Johnstown Castle
2024-05-25 09:00 - 15:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
On Saturday 25th May, we are back again with Part 4 of Castle ‘n’ Cars Exhibition at Johnstown Castle with Park ‘n’ Chill from Waterford.
This time, it’s going to be bigger and better. With over 300 cars on display, trade village, Food Vendors… and also… something which has never been done at a Car Show before…. More details to come soon.
Enjoy your Saturday with a walk around the grounds, weaving in and out between an amazing selection of cars. A culture so diverse, so passionate.
Explore the gardens overseeing the wide selection of cars from Supercars to JDM legends, classic restorations and European Elites.
Gates open to the public at 09:00, through the Visitor centre. Tickets can be purchased on arrival at our reception desk. Please be patient with our team as the day is sure to be extremely busy.
Free Parking available on site (first come first served). A traffic management system will be in operation so please follow the instructions of our staff.

A Walk on the Wild Side
2024-06-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Join Matt Wheeler at 2pm on Sunday 9th June on a walking tour to explore Johnstown Castle grounds. The walk will look at the estate’s prominent historical features, quirky hidden gems and the diverse flora & fauna.
*This is an outdoor event – please dress appropriately. In the event of extremely bad weather the event will be cancelled.

The Irish Great War Society
2024-06-12 00:00
The Irish Great War Society is a living history group dedicated to the remembrance and education of those who fought and died in the Great War. An exhibit will be featuring outside the castle on 24th and 25th August. The society wears the uniforms and carries the Equipment of the period, displaying original memorabilia such as the WW1 glider plane shown here, they demonstrate the firearms and other equipment used in battle. They also have a Medical Display Aid Station showing the equipment and medicines available at the time. Their group will engage with members of the public over this weekend to hear stories of their relatives and exchange information on those who fought in WW1.

Cruinniú na nÓg
2024-06-15 11:00 - 15:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
On Saturday, June 15th come along and take part in a Wildlife Treasure Hunt on the grounds of Johnstown Castle.
This is a free ticketed event and will involve playing games with Laura Flood and Liz Flynn. The event is suitable for ages 6-9 (1 guardian per child)
There are two times: 11am and 2pm and each one will last approx. 90 minutes.
Working with the permaculture principle to ‘observe and interact’, this fun workshop provokes curiosity of our natural surroundings. Through team-work, the children will play a discovery game, a bit like a treasure hunt, searching for colours, textures and particular items that can be found in the grounds of Johnstown Castle.
They will then explore what they have found using their senses and imagination. Gaining points throughout the process (the team with the most points wins!), the workshop will help children consider how to develop rules and guidelines for games and gaming.
This is a free of charge, ticketed event for children. Please note this event takes place outdoor so please dress for the weather on the day.
In association with Wexford County Council and Creative Ireland.

Pierces Foundry Wexford, The Rise, and Fall of an Industrial Giant!
2024-06-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Pierces Foundry Wexford, The Rise, and Fall of an Industrial Giant! SOLD OUT!!!
This illustrated talk by Myles Miller takes place on 22nd June at 11am in the castle Ballroom. It will give an insight into the Rise and Fall of Pierces Foundry.
It will discuss the circumstances around the firm’s formation in the mid-19th century and look at its rise from humble beginnings which would see the firm become the largest foundry in Ireland, and finally consider its eventual decline and sale by the Pierce family in the 1960s.
Pierce implements can still be found on many farms and in homes throughout Ireland. Plus, there are still traces of this once mighty foundry to be found throughout Co Wexford.
The main entrance to the sheet metal works still survives on the Distillery Road. It is a constant reminder of the many workers who passed through the firm’s gates. At the height of its success the firm built three different terraces of houses for its workers, Albina Terrace, Casa Rio and Avenue De Flaunders all of which are still in use today.
The railings which surround Wexford’s twin churches were manufactured by the firm, as was the Castlebridge conservatory. These items were manufactured by hand in the forge of James Pierce. They are works of the most intricate design and testify to the pride and skill of the craftsmen of bygone days.
**PLEASE NOTE: The talk starts at 11am. Please arrive 15 minutes before start time as talk takes place in the castle.**

The Johnny Taylor Trio - Night One of June Jazz
2024-06-28 19:30 - 22:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Friday June 28th at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 7.00pm.
The Johnny Taylor Trio, named after one of the finest jazz pianists on the Irish music scene. The trio is one of the most sought after by jazz venues and festivals at home and abroad. No strangers to Jazz at Johnstown audiences, Johnny, Barry Donohoe (double bass) and Dominic Mullan (drums), will open this year’s Jazz at Johnstown Festival. The concert will take place at the Visitors Centre on Friday evening, June 28 at the earlier time of 7.30pm.
This is a trio whose integrated and disciplined interplay can achieve things a jazz piano trio isn’t supposed to. This endears them to jazz and non-jazz fans alike. The level of invention achieved by exploring fresh and new sources of repertoire – no bullish pyrotechnics – is always challenging and never less than communal.
The level of invention they achieve creates a musical experience that you won’t forget easily! An evening with the Johnny Taylor Trio at Johnstown castle is one in which the band and the audience join together in intimacy and energy.

June Jazz at Johnstown Castle
2024-06-29 19:30 - 23:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Saturday June 29th at 8pm with door opening at 7.30pm.
Wexford is very fortunate to have a first class jazz musician – Kevin Lawlor – on its doorstep. And Jazz at Johnstown is very fortunate to have the Kevin Lawlor Quartet headlining our concert on Saturday June 29th.
And what a quartet! Kevin will be joined by the great Welsh pianist Dave Jones, Peter Vogelaar on bass and, returning from England for this concert with Joseph Leighton on guitar.
This Jazz at Johnstown Festival special will be a cause of celebration because Kevin will feature songs from his fifth album. Titled The Island, all original compositions ranging from swing to contemporary groove driven pieces.
To add to the occasion, this performance will be opened by the County Wexford School of Music Youth Ensemble. Kevin is the Director of Jazz Studies here.
Meet the band. Dave Jones has performed at Jazz Festivals internationally and recently sold out Pizza Express in London; Joseph Leighton is an up and coming guitarist on the London jazz scene, makes up part of the faculty of the Sligo International Jazz Summer School and, like Dave, features on the album.
Peter Vogelaar is a highly respected and accomplished electronic music artist and producer.

Kids Yoga Retreat
2024-07-06 11:00 - 2024-07-13 13:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
During Johnstown’s Kids Camp week – join The Kids Yoga Classroom for a Yoga, nature and creativity camp in Johnstown Ballroom on Saturday 6th and Saturday 13th July from 11am – 1.30pm.
Children can chill out this summer time in a beautiful space, trying out warm ups, breathwork, yoga stories and flow, including time for outside nature walks and creative arts and crafts. Suitable for children aged 6 – 10 years. Tickets €30 per day.
To book a space, email: thekidsyogaclassroom@gmail.com

(SOLD OUT) Foraging and Folklore for kids
2024-07-11 10:30 - 12:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
As part of Johnstown’s Kids Camp, we will be starting summer off in a wonderful way on Thursday 11th July at 10:30am.
Join Lorraine, the Gallivanting Foraging & Folklore guide for a fascinating workshop aimed at introducing your little ones to the magic that is the natural world. Together we will find edible flowers and leaves, hunt for bugs and birds nests, find the healing plants that will ease a sting or bite and even listen for the sounds of water inside the trees, and paint with natural inks made from wild berries and tree cones.
This workshop aims to give your child simple, age-appropriate bush skills that will enhance family walks in the future!

Suitable for 5 – 10 year olds
Each ticket admits 1 child and 1 guardian
This workshop is 2 hours long and mainly based outside. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather.

Mark Redmond Jazz/Trad Fusion
2024-08-02 19:30 - 22:30
Friday 2nd August 8pm, doors 7.30pm.
Fleadh Cheoil ne hÉireann, the world’s largest annual festival of Irish traditional music, is coming to Wexford town for the first time in August. In recognition, Jazz at Johnstown is contributing to the festivities by hosting a jazz/trad concert with renowned piper Mark Redmond and the Chris Colloton Trio at the Visitors Centre on Friday evening, August 2nd.
With an upbringing in traditional music, Redmond is noted as a musician who can fuse between various genres. He performs regularly with the RTÉ Concert and National Symphony Orchestras and has performed/recorded with many including Riverdance, Celtic Woman, Christy Moore, Imelda May, Westlife and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
Guitarist Chris Colloton is one of the most brilliant innovators in Irish jazz: Chris’s speciality is also as an innovator and collaborator, having interpreted Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother and Radiohead’s Paranoid Android at Jazz at Johnstown.
This will be the third such collaboration between these musicians, after two successful sold-out performances at Johnstown in 2023.

Nature and Sustainability
2024-08-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Wednesday 21st August 11am – 1pm
Celebrate Heritage Week with us through Nature and Sustainability in Johnstown Castle Ballroom.
Head Gardener Ciaran Fitzgerald will kick off the event. He will be explaining how he and his team helps the gardens of Johnstown Castle and its biodiversity to thrive. His team have reduced 22 acres of lawn down to 9 acres – turning the rest into native hay meadow and rough grassland encouraging rare butterflies and birds to thrive. Within the 50 acres of natural woodland, Ciaran will explain how they have also removed invasives and replanted native trees. Ciaran will also explain the planting styles in the walled garden used to increase pollinators and bird food. Ciaran will speak about our edible woodlands as a sustainable way to grow food, along with how over 6000 native bulbs have been planted on site. Additionally, Ciaran will also explain our apiary and how our bees are looked after here.
The 100 Million Trees Project is a national initiative in Ireland. It aims to plant 100 million native Irish trees across the island over the next decade. Developed by brothers Richard and David Mulcahy, this community-driven effort seeks to reverse environmental damage caused by deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Richard will come to talk about the impact of this project in Wexford and beyond.
A screening of film by Deirdre will take place after the talks. The Quickening, is a powerful new sound and moving image artwork by Deirdre O’Mahony. Commissioned by The Douglas Hyde Gallery and supported by an Arts Council of Ireland Project Award. Bringing together urgent conversations, original music and moving image, The Quickening responds to issues facing farming, food production and consumption, in the face of present ecological and climate crises (36 mins long)
For bookings please ring
+353 (0)53 9184671

Lifting the Gate
2024-08-23 19:30 - 22:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
.On Friday 23rd August at 7.30pm, join Wexford based poet Ben MacCaoilte and harpist Erin Lalor. The pair will combine in Poetry, story, and music in this bilingual journey through time, memory, and nostalgia.
Wrapped in the warm sounds of the harp and fiddle, audiences will be invited to lift the metaphorical gate and approach the well of memory, accompanied by those in our lives who exist now in memory alone. As we slip between song and story, Irish and English, this mesmerising and immersive event encourages you to embrace vulnerability, humanity, and your own personal history.
Singer songwriter Patrick Stefan will also perform with fiddle player Jayne Pomplas. This duo will open the evening with some magical sounds to sooth your soul in the luxurious surroundings.
Please park in the castle car park and not the visitor centre car park. Doors at 7pm.

The Irish Great War Society
2024-08-31 10:30 - 2024-09-01 16:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
The Irish Great War Society is a living history group dedicated to the remembrance and education of those who fought and died in the Great War.
They will be displaying an exhibit in front of the castle on Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September, 10.30am – 4pm. The group wears the Uniforms and carry the Equipment of the period, display original memorabilia, demonstrate the firearms and other equipment used in battle. The society will also have a Medical Display Aid Station showing the equipment and medicines available at the time.
They will engage with members of the public to hear stories of their relatives and exchange information on those who fought in WW1.
This is a free event upon general admission to the estate and gardens and free for members.

Sound Journey
2024-09-11 08:00 - 17:00
A Sound Healing Journey in Johnstown Ballroom on Saturday September 28th 2pm – 4pm
A collaboration of sound with Maureen Barrett and Lynn Kelly, presenting “Harvest”, a time of thanksgiving, restored balance and integration.
Booking essential via phone: Maureen 0876613624 / Lynn 0877931168

The Legacy of Daniel Robertson
2024-09-12 19:30 - 20:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Johnstown Castle and beyond… the life and Irish legacy of the architect Daniel Robertson.
A very interesting talk by Eileen Wickham about the professional and personal life of Robertson, including images and discussion around of each of his 26 buildings in Ireland.

The Wexford Honey Festival
2024-09-21 10:30 - 2024-09-22 17:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
The Wexford Honey Festival in partnership with South Wexford Beekeepers Association takes place on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd September in Johnstown Castle from 10.30am – 5pm both days.

There will be information stands for visitors to learn more about the importance of bees and biodiversity as well as stalls with Wexford beekeepers showcasing their delicious products. There will also be some demonstrations, talks, walks and fun activities for children along with some bluegrass music on the Sunday afternoon by Annette Joy.

This event is free for members and included in daily admission.

Autumn Fete
2024-10-06 12:00 - 17:00
We invite families, friends and companions to Johnstown Castle Autumn Fête on Sunday October 6th for an afternoon of follies and fun for young and old.
Create shared memories with friends and loved ones while enjoying a host of engaging, intergenerational, unforgettable activities.
We will have a very special dog show with competitions for your furry friends to compete in, relaxing music in the courtyard, victorian re-enactments, vintage car show, wildlife trails and more!
Event free with general admission.

The Way of a Bee
2024-10-09 09:30 - 2024-10-31 17:00
KAREL JASPER AT JOHNSTOWN CASTLE CART ROOM
October 2024
The Wex-Art Festival of visual art will feature the work of over sixty artists across multiple venues in Wexford town and district – including Johnstown Castle – for the duration of the festival.
Karel Jasper is a fine art black and white photographer currently living in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. She loves working in black and white, creating compositions around the contrast and balance between the light and shadows, experimenting with natural light and discovering the inherent beauty and structure overlooked in the natural world.
For the past couple of years, she has been exploring the theme of pilgrimage in her photography work. This exhibition, The Way of a Bee, in the Cart Room started with her own pilgrimage along the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way in May 2022, a 260km journey over land and sea, which also took in Johnstown Castle.
Free event upon general admission

The Johnstown Glasshouses
2024-10-19 11:00 - 12:00
On Saturday 19th October at 11am, Head Gardener at Johnstown Castle, Ciaran Fitzgerald will be talking about the history of the glasshouse in the walled garden and the works done to restore it. Ciaran will be focusing on Richardson glasshouses like the one featured here. He will go on to give insight into the atmospheric and beautifully maintained walled gardens.

Francis Danby "A Political Painter and Uncommon Genius"
2024-11-09 11:00 - 12:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Mary Stratton Ryan traces the life and career of Wexford-born artist Francis Alfred Danby 1793 – 1861.
Grandeur of imagination, poetic breadth of treatment and colossal energy characterise the paintings of Wexford-born artist Francis Alfred Danby.
This talk will be held in the Castles Ballroom at 11am on Saturday 9th November.
Ticketed event with limited availability.

Santas Arrival at Johnstown Castle
2024-11-22 18:00 - 18:45 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Join us on Friday 22nd November to welcome Santa on his arrival to Johnstown Castle. Santa will arrive at the castle at 6pm following his long journey from the North Pole.
A local choir will be on hand to sing some festive carols to make sure Santa gets an extra special arrival.
Our café will remain open for some festive treats and beverages.
The meeting point for this event will be the museum courtyard. Our staff will walk everyone up to the castle. Please be ready to leave the Visitor Centre to walk to the castle at 5:50pm. This is an outdoor event.

Paws n Claus
2024-11-30 11:00 - 2024-12-07 15:00, 2024-12-07 11:00 - 2024-12-14 15:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
This festive season, we invite you to be part of an extra special Christmas in Wexford at our Enchanted Christmas at Johnstown Castle.
We understand how important your Fur Babies are to you and how much they want to meet Santa!
On Saturday 30th November and Saturday 7th December from 11am-3pm both days, Santa will be visiting all the good boys and girls with wagging tails in the Irish Agriculture Museum.
Each dog will receive a special treat from Santa. A percentage of each ticket will be donated to the WSPCA.
**This ticket includes general admission into the gardens and the museum for the day **
**No professional Photography included**
The experience is sure to be a paw-sitively delightful experience for everyone.
All dogs and animals, regardless of their age and size, are warmly welcomed. For the safety and comfort of all attendees, please keep your furry friends controlled and on a short lead. Dogs who need to be muzzled under the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 must be muzzled upon entry.
Join us for a merry “Paws and Claus” Christmas celebration.
The Human Christmas Experience is available here.

Enchanted Afternoon Tea
2024-12-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
A Luxurious Christmas Afternoon Tea at Johnstown Castle
This festive season, experience the epitome of elegance with our Enchanted Afternoon Tea at the magnificent Johnstown Castle. Set amidst the opulent surroundings of our historic dining room and Library, this is an indulgent escape into timeless grandeur.
Savour a refined selection of freshly baked scones, artisanal sandwiches, and exquisitely crafted festive desserts, accompanied by your choice of mulled wine or sparkling prosecco.
✨ Details:

Price: €60 per person
Booking: Minimum of 2 tickets per reservation
Start Time: 1:00 PM (Guests are kindly requested to arrive 15 minutes early to enjoy a seamless journey to the castle)

Immerse yourself in the splendour of the season with this exclusive experience. Pre-booking is essential as places are limited.
Let Johnstown Castle enchant you this Christmas with an unforgettable afternoon of luxury, flavour, and festivity.

The Beekeepers of South Wexford: A Tale of Rebellion, Warfare & Epidemic Disease by Matt Wheeler
2025-01-25 11:00 - 12:30 | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Join us for an insightful and engaging talk that takes you back to 1911, when a group of beekeepers came together to form the South Wexford Beekeepers Association. Little did they know, within just five years, both their lives and the lives of their bees would be forever altered by groundbreaking developments at home and abroad.
Whether you’re a seasoned beekeeper, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the fascinating world of bees, this event is not to be missed.
