Johnstown Castle

Rewilding & Biodiversity Tour with Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald
2023-07-13 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Dublin) | Johnstown Castle Estate, Y35 HP22, Ireland
Join Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald on Thursday, 13th July at 11am. Ciarán will give a guided tour of Johnstown castle’s grounds focusing on the work that the team have been doing rewilding Johnstown Castle Estate.
Ciaran will also speak about the hugely important biodiversity element at Johnstown Castle and highlight the immense range of both flora and fauna on the estate.
Please be aware that this tour will take approx. 90 minutes and will involve walking throughout.
The tour duration is approx. 1.5 hours and the meeting point is in the courtyard.
**We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in and to collect your tickets at the desk.**

Jazz Pizzazz with Stella Bass
2023-06-24 20:00 - 22:30
If ever a trio of musicians in contemporary Irish jazz warranted the description as a super group, bassist Barry Donahue, drummer Dominic Mullen and keyboardist Johnny Taylor fit the bill. They will be the sensational sound behind one of the best jazz vocalists in the country, Stella Bass. Stella is making her Jazz at Johnstown debut on Saturday, June 24, at 8 p.m.
Since she released her first album in 2014, Stella has performed at most of the major jazz festivals in Ireland. She has also performed at the famous Pizza Express in London and jazz venues in Germany, France and Australia.
Stella was a headline act at the 2017 Cork Jazz Festival in a concert she devised with acclaimed jazz guitarist Hugh Buckley, which paid tribute to the Ella Fitzgerald/Joe Pass collaborations.
This show also toured Ireland that year, and sold out twice in Dublin’s National Concert Hall. Stella had similar sell-out success in the NCH with her jazz-inspired interpretations of the music of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim. This concert also toured Ireland.
Stella’s versatile repertoire crosses over jazz, classical and musical theatre, though she is still most at home singing her beloved jazz standards. Stella is inspired by her major influences, Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand.
**Tickets for this show are limited and tickets must be pre-booked. We recommend arriving 20 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in and to purchase refreshments.**

Jazz at Johnstown - 3 Day Festival
2023-06-23 - 2023-06-25
Jazz at Johnstown Festival
The biggest outdoor jazz festival in the South East takes place in Wexford across three days from June 23 to June 25.
Over 14 bands and 35 musicians from throughout the country will take part in the third outdoor Jazz at Johnstown festival.
Hosted on the grounds of Johnstown Castle, some of the biggest names in Irish jazz –Stella Bass, Carole Nelson Trio, Lee Meehan Quintet and Cormac Kenevey – will bring star-studded bands to the Wexford venue.
A series of outdoor stages – the Castle Stage, the Sunken Garden, the Visitors Centre’s jazz on the grass, the Courtyard – will accommodate two full days of live jazz on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the festival is free for members, €9 a day for adult, €7 for OAP/Students, €4 child, or €24 per day for a family of two adults and two children (Under 5’s are Free). General Admission tickets can be pre-purchased here: https://rb.gy/07bn8
A separate admission charge is in place for the evening headline acts at the Visitors Centre on Friday night (Mark Redmond and Chris Colloton Trio) and Saturday (Stella Bass with Barry Donohue, Dominic Mullan and Johnny Taylor).
Jazz at Johnstown is a recipient of the Small Arts Festivals and Experimental Art Events Grants Scheme 2023 from the Arts Department, Wexford Co. Council. It is also supported by Johnstown Castle, Rosslare Municipal District, Wexford Co. Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Irish Heritage Trust and Price Waterhouse Cooper.
FULL SCHEDULE: *Subject to change*
Mark Redmond and Chris Colloton Trio
Jazz at Johnstown, in the first of two indoor concerts at the Visitors Centre, brings together jazz and Irish trad to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the seminal Horslips album, The Táin. Our special guest is Wexford piper Mark Redmond, playing alongside Jazz at Johnstown frequent headliners, the Chris Colloton Trio, featuring on keyboards the young wizard Killian Browne, and guesting on drums, the brilliant Lorcan Byrne. Guitar supremo Chris and Mark will reimagine The Táin, which represented the zenith of the Horslips’ Celtic Symphony years, as the opening concert of the 2023 Jazz at Johnstown festival. The coming together of these great musicians will demonstrate how both trad and jazz can easily incorporate aspects of each other into a stunning fusion of improvisational brilliance. Making his debut at Jazz at Johnstown, Mark Redmond has toured globally as a soloist and ensemble musician. This is a one-off occasion to see these four eminent musicians playing a classic from the Irish repertoire as an ensemble. (8 p.m @ the Visitors Centre)
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
The Ivy Sisters
The Ivy Sisters (Sharon Clancy, Jilly Cox and Aileen Donohoe), a vintage vocal harmony trio from Wexford, is one of the country’s most accomplished exponents of vocal jazz and swing. A live performance by these singers, all of whom come from a performing and theatrical background including the West End, promises a cocktail of sassy entertainment which can switch from seductive harmonising to a full blown, delicious euphony of pitch-perfect harmony, in seconds. A perennial favourite at Jazz at Johnstown.
(11.30 a.m @ the Visitors Centre)
Carole Nelson Trio
Carole is a London-born jazz pianist, saxophonist and composer who has been living in Ireland since 1986. Her current project, the Carole Nelson Trio, with Carole on piano, bassist Cormac O’Brien and drummer Dominic Mullen, began at a piano festival in Dublin in 2015. Their first album, One Day in Winter was released November 2017. Comprising all original compositions from Carole, the album follows the course of a winter’s day, inspired by the South County Carlow landscape between the River Barrow and the Blackstairs Mountains, where she currently lives and was described as ‘a finely-wrought meditation that tapped into the spacious European piano trio tradition of Tord Gustavsen and Marcin Wasilewski’ by Cormac Larkin in The Irish Times. Arboreal is the trio’s second album, which was released in 2020 and featured another collection of outstanding compositions.
(12.30 p.m. @ the Sunken Garden)
Gediminas Karkauskas Trio
Gediminas Karkauskas from Lithuania is a jazz pianist, composer and educator who has been living in Dublin for the past two decades. In 2020 Gediminas released his debut album, Lost Suite, which was critically acclaimed not only in Europe but also in the USA, where it remained in the charts for fifteen weeks. It was cited by ‘jazzfuel’ as one of the top jazz albums of the year whilst American author Debbie Burke devoted a whole chapter of her book , “tasty jazz jams for our times vol.2” to an appreciation of Lost Suite. Gediminas will be joined by Wexford drummer Kevin Lawlor and Kilkenny bassist Adrian Jackson.
(1.15 p.m. @ Johnstown Castle)
ÄTSCH
Dublin four-piece ÄTSCH started life in 2016 as the graduation project of German-born guitarist Matthias Winkler, but the chemistry between its members – the band also features keyboardist Graeme Bourke, bassist Eoin O’Halloran and drummer Hugh Denman – has kept them together over the last six years: the band’s third album proves the musical rewards that can flow from such sustained engagement.
(2.15 p.m. @ the Visitors Centre)
Pogo Bear
Pogo Bear – Daniel Rorke, saxophone, Cormac O’Brien, double bass and Shane O’Dononvan, drums – is a trio of dynamic and innovative musicians. Formed in the vibrant and thriving music scene in Dublin, this trio have honed their sound over recent years, drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical genres. They have created a distinctive sound that is both accessible and complex, showcasing their technical proficiency and improvisational skills. Pogo’s live shows are a tour de force of energy and creativity, with each member taking turns to shine as they weave intricate melodies and harmonies together. From high-energy bebop to soulful ballads, this trio seamlessly blends genres and styles to create a truly unique musical experience. Whether on stage or in the studio, this trio is a true embodiment of the power of collective musical expression.
(3.15 p.m. @ the Courtyard)
TBL8
TBL8 is a big-band inspired brass and stage ensemble based in Dublin and playing together since June 2017. Most of the band learned their instruments in the Finglas Concert and Marching Band as kids, where they became friends and started playing the music they wanted to play. Since then, they have put together a set-list of both original compositions as well as original arrangements based on modern pop songs.
(4.15 p.m. @ the Visitors Centre)
Stella Bass (with Barry Donohue, Dominic Mullan and Johnny Taylor)
If ever a trio of musicians in contemporary Irish jazz warranted the description as a super group, bassist Barry Donohue, drummer Dominic Mullan and keyboardist Johnny Taylor fit the bill. They are the sensational sound behind one of the best jazz vocalists in the country, Stella Bass, making her Jazz at Johnstown debut on Saturday, June 24, at 8 p.m.
Since she released her first album in 2014, Stella has performed at most of the major jazz festivals in Ireland, as well as at Pizza Express in London and jazz venues in Germany, France and Australia. She was a headline act at the 2017 Cork Jazz Festival in a concert she devised with acclaimed jazz guitarist Hugh Buckley, which paid tribute to the Ella Fitzgerald/Joe Pass collaborations.
This show also toured Ireland that year, and sold out twice in Dublin’s National Concert Hall. Stella had similar sell-out success in the NCH with her jazz-inspired interpretations of the music of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim; this concert also toured Ireland. Stella’s versatile repertoire crosses over jazz, classical and musical theatre, though she is still most at home singing her beloved jazz standards, inspired by her major influences, Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand.
(8 p.m. @ the Visitors Centre)
SUNDAY JUNE 25
Jazz Alley
For such a short and innocuous word, ‘Swing’ packs quite a punch in jazz, and few ensembles pack as powerfully and as infectiously as the Vicky Barron-led Jazz Alley. Last year’s Jazz at Johnstown festival opener, Jazz Alley will return to the familiar haunt of jazz on the grass at the Visitors Centre, with a set which includes popular favourites and occasional rarities with an astonishing sound. Jazz never gets old, played by a band like Jazz Alley from Wexford. Vicky’s unique tone and approach to melody have helped define lyrical saxophone playing in Wexford for many, many years.
(11.45 a.m. @ the Visitors Centre)
Melanie O’Reilly Quartet
Wexford-based Melanie O’Reilly and her star-laden swing jazz trio – Gediminas Karkauskas – piano, Adrian Jackson –bass and Kevin Lawlor – drums present a bouquet of sultry swinging jazz celebrating legendary singers Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Nina Simone, Mel Torme, Jon Hendricks among many, revisiting the Great American Songbook while bringing new life to the memory of jazz vocal legends and songwriters of Tin Pan Alley.
(1. p.m. @ the Sunken Garden)
Presto
Presto from Wexford is a newly formed duo between Des O’ Callaghan and Hayley Crosbie. Between them they have a whirlwind of experience! Guaranteed to provide a high energy and entertaining performance with a variety of different music, from classics to modern to jazz! They are not to be missed over a cup of coffee or Sunday lunch!
(1.15 p.m. @ the Visitors Centre restaurant)
Cormac Kenevey (with Dominic Mullan, Dave Redmond and Johnny Taylor)
In 2006, Cormac Kenevey funded and recorded his first album This Is Living – a collaboration with the exceptionally talented Dublin stalwart Phil Ware and his Trio. It was quickly picked up and released by Alan Bates at the CANDID record label in London (home to Stacey Kent and Jamie Cullum). Thus began a career as a jazz singer with a string of critically acclaimed national and international appearances. His second album The Art of Dreaming confirmed his place on the international jazz scene. His tour dates have included locations in London (Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St) around Europe, and as far afield Abu Dhabi and Mexico. During this period he also took the time to complete a Master’s Degree in Jazz performance, specialising in the art of Vocalese and in the vocal stylings of hero and eventual mentor, Mark Murphy. A big crowd favourite last year, he brings a magnificent trio to Jazz at Johnstown: Dominic Mullan, Dave Redmond and Johnny Taylor.
(2.15 p.m. @ the Visitors Centre)
Sharon Clancy Trio
An opportunity to see this ensemble on home soil before it makes its international debut at the Aberjazz International Festival in the UK in August. With Vicky Barron on saxophone/clarinet and Terry Byrne on keyboards/piano, singer Sharon Clancy can sing straight-ahead jazz with aplomb but switch styles in the blink of an eye. A frequent headliner over the years at Jazz at Johnstown with the Chris Colloton Trio, Sharon has both a smouldering and sensuous vocal with a seasoned performer’s mastery of the stage.
(3.15 p.m. @ the Courtyard)
Lee Meehan Quintet (with Shane O’Donovan, Dave Redmond and Darragh O’Kelly)
The Lee Meehan Quintet is a high octane ensemble. Lee, guitar, will be joined on stage by the incredible talent of Shane O’Donovan on drums, Dave Redmond on bass, Darragh O’Kelly on keyboards and Michael Buckley on saxophone. Lee will be performing his own original songs as well as jazz standards from the great American songbook. Lee is best known on the Irish music circuit for being a blues guitarist and singer playing with the likes of Don Baker, The 9Bars (9bar blues band) Gotcha!, The Business, Rob Strong, Damien Dempsey, Mik Pyro (Republic Of Loose). After hearing Wes Montgomery for the first time Lee quickly became fascinated with jazz and studied the genre extensively for some time.
(4.15 p.m. @ the Visitors Centre)

Heraldic Castle Tour with Peter Henry
2023-06-17 14:30 - 15:45
Date: Saturday 17th June at 14:30pm.
Johnstown Castle is decorated with many heraldic emblems – birds, bears, griffins, lions and more – representing the families who owned the estate.
The interior and exterior feature coats of arms connected to the Grogans and their descendants, many of them indicating the marriages that took place between them and other wealthy families – including names such as Reynolds, Jervis, Rowe, Forbes and FitzGerald.
Beyond the castle itself, many documents and other items connected to the castle’s proprietors are marked with these intriguing decorations. On Saturday,17th June, Peter Henry will lead a special tour of the castle, pointing out and identifying the various items of heraldry and giving a general introduction to this colourful, esoteric subject.
Peter is the author of The Heraldry of Johnstown Castle: A Wexford Estate’s Armorial History (2019), which is available in the Visitor Centre shop (limited availability). This tour will be especially interesting to local history enthusiasts who want to further their knowledge of the castle and its owners, from the Esmondes to the Grogans, Fitzgeralds and Lakins.

Lady Catherine Colclough by Alan Ryan
2023-06-17 11:00 - 12:00
Come along to what is sure to be a fascinating talk about Lady Catherine Colclough on Saturday 17th June at 11am.
Learn about this intriguing character who was born into the Grogan family at Johnstown Castle. The talk will be presented by Alan Ryan, Project Manager for Colclough Walled Garden. Alan will also provide an update on latest work at the garden.
This event will take place in the Ballroom in the newly restored East Wing of the Castle.
**We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in, to collect your tickets at the desk and make your way to the castle ballroom**

Guided Tree Walk with Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald
2023-06-15 11:00 - 12:30
Join Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald on a fascinating guided tree walk on Johnstown Castles Estate on Thursday 15th June at 11am. Ciarán will talk about the huge variety of trees throughout the estate.
He will also discuss the future plans for the estate including the plans for the walled garden and gardeners house and the ongoing work.
The tour duration is approx. 1.5 hours and the meeting point is in the courtyard.
**We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in and to collect your tickets at the desk.**

Castle 'N' Cars at Johnstown Castle
2023-05-27 09:00 - 15:00
On Saturday May 27th, Park ‘N’ Chill Waterford are back for the third instalment of Castle ‘n’ Cars.
This year will be even bigger than before with a huge selection of cars from Supercars to JDM legends, classic restorations and European Elites.
Enjoy your Saturday with a walk around the grounds of a 12th Century Castle, weaving in and out between the Irish Car Culture.
Gates open to the public at 09:00, through the Visitor centre.
Free parking available on site.
This year the event is supporting Wexford Marinewatch as well as Junior for Juniors.
General Admission will cover access to the see the car show, the gardens, the arboretum as well as the museum.
€9 per adult
€24 per family (2-2)
€7 student/ Seniors
Children over 5 years of age – €4
Children under 5 go free.
Members are FREE and any guests accompanying a member will receive a 20% discount on the admission fee.

Guided Bee Walk
2023-05-20
(Limited Tickets Remaining)
Join us on Saturday 20th May for ‘World Bee Day’ to celebrate the wonderful world of bees.
Hosted during ‘National Biodiversity Week’, this guided walk and talk will be led by Property Curator Matt Wheeler and wildlife expert Harm Deenen. You will learn all about the Johnstown apiary and the wild honeybees that inhabit the Estate as well as more unusual types of bee which are also important for pollination.
The walks take place at 11am (fully booked) and 2pm (1 space remaining) and places must be booked in advance.
Tours start promptly so please check in at reception at least 20 minutes before the start time of the tour. The tour will start from the museum courtyard.
All children should be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets for this event are non-refundable and not for re-sale by third parties.
Please take careful note of your date and time booked, as your event is a while away and it’s easy to forget or mix up dates.
Please be aware that if you miss your time or day we may not be able to accommodate you at an alternative time.

Guided Garden Walk
2023-05-18 11:00 - 12:30
Join Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald on a guided tour of Johnstown castle’s grounds on Thursday 18th May at 11am.
Ciarán will talk about the history of the gardens as well as the future plans for the estate.
He will also discuss the plans for the walled garden and give a sneak peak into the newly restored glass house.
The tour duration is approx 1.5 hours and the meeting point is in the courtyard.
**Places are limited and tickets must be pre-booked. We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in and to collect your tickets at the desk.**

The Richie Buckley Quartet at Johnstown (SOLD OUT)
2023-04-21 20:00 - 22:30
The Richie Buckley Quartet – Friday April 21st at 8pm.
Having recorded with Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed tenor saxophonists Richie Buckley will make his debut at Jazz at Johnstown on Friday, April 21, with an extraordinary trio of musicians.
With his unique style and virtuosic technique, Richie is internationally recognised as a legendary jazz performer, lionised by The Sunday Independent as a musician who “manages to be simultaneously passionate and gentle, romantic and elegiac.”
Richie will be accompanied at this one off Jazz at Johnstown spring special by Myles Drennan on Hammond organ, John Moriarty on guitar and Kevin Brady on drums.
Richie is one of the most sought after saxophonists in Europe: his collaborations include Van Morrison, Freddie Hubbard, Dave McKenna, Harry Allen, Lew Soloff, Guy Barker, Jiggs Wigham, Bob Dylan, Georgie Fame, Jon Hendricks, Carlos Santana, Barry Manilow, and Elvis Costello.
Among his recording credits are Van Morrison, James Williams, Barry Manilow, Elmer Bernstein, The Cranberries, Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sinead O’Connor, Paul Brady and Bill Whelan.
He has also scored three documentary films – ‘Luke’ (Luke Kelly, directed by Sinead O’Brien), ‘Friel’, ‘Lee Marvin’ (directed by John Boorman) and the film ‘The General’ (directed by John Boorman).
Tickets are priced at €25 for members of Johnstown Castle and €30 for non-members.
**Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in, finding a table and the purchasing of some refreshments **

(SOLD OUT) National Tree Week Tour
2023-03-23 11:00 - 12:30
Join Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald on a fascinating guided tour of Johnstown Castles grounds on Thursday 23rd March at 11am as part of National Tree Week. Ciarán will talk about the huge variety of coniferous trees throughout the estate.
He will also discuss the future plans for the estate including the plans for the walled garden and gardeners house, the ongoing works and the re-wilding activities that are taking places on the estate.
**Places are limited and tickets must be pre-booked. We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for check in and to collect your tickets at the desk.**
