Strokestown Park and the National Famine Museum
A Palladian mansion and a compelling museum combine for an unmissable attraction in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
There’s something for everyone at Strokestown Park. Do you love a good historical drama like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton? Then take a guided tour of the grand country home to see and hear what life was like for gentry and servants alike in centuries past. Are you more of an outdoorsy type? Head for the relaxing walled gardens or venture further afield along woodland trails. Consider yourself a history buff? Go straight to the state-of-the-art National Famine Museum, an interactive museum that sheds new light on one of the darkest periods in Irish history. Walkers and hikers can even begin the National Famine Way from here, a historic trail that traces the route taken by famine emigrants in 1847 as they made for Dublin in search of a better life.
Walking around the great house is like exploring a time capsule, as you uncover over 300 years of Pakenham-Mahon family items including dining sets and antique furniture in formal rooms and the family’s private quarters. The gardens are just as intriguing with a pretty Victorian rose garden and Ireland’s oldest restored glasshouse two of the must-see spots. For families with kids, don’t miss the fairy trail and the outdoor xylophone! While the house charts the history of the aristocratic owners, the National Famine Museum details the lives of the poor tenants who lived on the estate. Their tragic story of eviction, exile and hunger is told through audio-visual and touchscreen resources for a fully immersive experience. All in all, it’s a day out that’ll linger long in the memory...
Strokestown Park House, County Roscommon
Need to know
Opening hours vary by season with the site open from approx. late morning until early evening each day. See here for a month-by-month breakdown.
Admission tickets, special events, gift vouchers and more can be booked online here.
Free parking is available and the National Famine Museum, café, gift shop and ground floor of the house are all wheelchair accessible. Assistance dogs are also welcome.