Places of Interest

Castletown House is ideally located in the heart of Ireland, it is the ideal touring base for the midlands and the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and only 25 miles from Ireland's smallest medieval city of Kilkenny. Come and enjoy your stay. Some places really worth visiting include:

Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum
The Workhouse was the most dreaded and feared institution in Ireland. During the Great Famine countless thousands died within the workhouse walls. Even more, denied admission, died outside.

Kilkenny Castle and Design Centre
Kilkenny Castle offers guided tours and boasts an imposing picture gallery 150 feet long. Former seat of the Butlers, Earls and Dukes of Ormonde.

Clonmacnoise
A 6th century monastic site founded by St. Ciaran, encompassing a cathedral, nine churches, and two round towers, also high crosses and early Christian grave slabs.

Birr Castle and Gardens
Come and see the Giant Telescope with a 6 ft. Speculum, dating from 1845. One can also look back on remarkable stories of scientific achievement.

West Offaly Railway Bog Tours
Experience a guided Bog Tour aboard the “Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway” - the only one of its kind in Europe, and smell the 'peat' for yourself.

Rock of Cashel
Kings of Ireland as well as Munster came to this spot, and St. Patrick is said to have preached here

Some other places of interest are:

· Emo Court and Gardens · Timahoe Round Tower · Aghaboe Abbey · Japanese Gardens · National Stud · Bunratty Castle and Folkpark

· Damer House, Tower & Castle Roscrea · Holy Cross Abbey · Waterford Crystal · Jerpoint Abbey · Rathdowney Designer Outlet

Ballybrophy Train Station is within 2.5 miles of Castletown House. Dublin 1hr 10mins by train.

Castletown House is 8km off the M7 giving easy access from Dublin or Shannon.

Last Updated Aug 2010