Irish Heritage Trust Volunteering Programme

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens

Their expertise and enthusiasm is a vital support to the work of the Irish Heritage Trust, which manages and cares for Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens.

Can I Volunteer at Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens?

Joining the Irish Heritage Trust’s Volunteering Programme gives you a way to play a part in the important work of conserving Ireland’s rich heritage.

Whether you’re more at home chatting with visitors from Ireland and beyond about the past, fixing a piece of furniture, or marshalling the guests who come to enjoy our unique events programmes, our Irish Heritage Trust volunteer team at Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens will be delighted to welcome you into their ranks. Positions for volunteering spaces in both the castle and gardens are subject to availability.

Three volunteers, two men and a women in the centre, hold some plants inside a greenhouse

Join Our Dynamic Garden Team

You’ll get to meet lots of new people, work in beautiful surroundings. and have fun when you join the dedicated team of volunteers helping Head Gardener Ciarán Fitzgerald put his ambitious plans for a beautiful and sustainable estate into action.

Planting, composting, rewilding and taking cuttings are just some of the tasks you can choose from!

Training and Support

If you’d like to join the The Irish Heritage Trust’s volunteering programme at Johnstown Castle, Estate, Museum & Gardens, we won’t push you in at the deep end! You’ll be invited to meet the team at an induction workshop, where you can find out more about the Irish Heritage Trust and its properties and the roles that are available for you to try. Further training and support will be given if needed.

At our regular forum for staff and volunteers, we share information, provide training, and develop ideas with your input. We also take occasional trips to other properties and hold social events for the team.

If you would like to help for an hour, a day, or longer, please email us on volunteer@irishheritagetrust.ie

What Kind of Volunteering Suits You?

Are you keen to get your hands dirty in our kitchen gardens and formal flowerbeds, or ready to help us share amazing stories with visitors? There are lots of volunteering opportunities to choose from!

Meeting People, Sharing Stories
  • Tour guiding
  • Supporting the visitor experience
  • Acting as an ambassador at our events
  • Contributing or collecting oral histories and reminiscences
Conserving, Restoring and Growing
  • Conserving different aspects of our houses and gardens
  • Furniture restoration
  • Gardening and horticulture
  • Composting
  • Encouraging biodiversity
Working With Us Behind the Scenes
  • Event planning and support
  • Photography
  • Marketing & Promotion
  • Local community outreach
  • And much, much more!

Are You Interested in Volunteering?

Are you keen to get your hands dirty in our gardens and formal flowerbeds? Or would you prefer to help us share amazing stories with our visitors from Ireland and beyond?

Get in touch to connect with, and learn more about, Ireland’s heritage and local history, whilst also sharing your passion for your area and deepen your understanding of where you live.

Join Our Community